The prestigious event will connect Salou and the coast of Calvià from 10 to 12 September. Over 500 vessels have participated in its four-decade history.
The Rei en Jaume Regatta was presented this Tuesday at the Calvià Town Hall for its most special edition: the 40th anniversary. The race, which will take place from 10 to 12 September, will once again connect the coasts of Salou and Calvià over 110 nautical miles, recreating the route followed by King Jaime I in 1229 during the conquest of Mallorca.
Organised by the Club Nàutic Salou and the Club Náutico Santa Ponça, with the support of the town halls of Calvià and Salou, the regatta maintains its character as a long-distance race. The presentation was attended by the mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual; his counterpart from Salou, Pere Granados; the president of the Club Náutico Santa Ponça, Luis Nigorra; the deputy mayor for Sports of Calvià, Javier Tascón; and the race director, Manuel Nadal de Uhler.
Amengual emphasised the value of an event that combines sport, history, and brotherhood between municipalities.
“Reaching this round figure of 40 years fills us with pride. It is a journey that becomes a regatta, a celebration, and an act of brotherhood between Salou and Calvià, with a rich historical background combining culture and sport”, he stated.
Granados highlighted the historical significance of the event and the ties it maintains with Calvià.
“It is important to highlight these 40 years of regatta that the nautical clubs of Santa Ponça and Salou had the magnificent idea to create to commemorate such an important historical event”, he affirmed, adding that the event represents
“the value of the sea and the Mediterranean”and the role of
“the men and women of the sea”.
During the event, 11 panels were displayed featuring photographs, posters, and news articles that review these four decades. In total, more than 500 vessels have participated in the regatta since its inception, including the maxi Hispania, Sirius III, Bribón VI, Petrouchka, Pelegrin —which holds the record for the crossing at 13 hours and 48 minutes—, Gymir, Vichu, and Majoqui, whose team has competed the most times.
The 2026 edition is part of the Ausmar Long-Distance Regatta Circuit and will be scored for the Catalonia Championship in the solo and A2 categories. The fleet will compete in the ORC, ORC Promotion, A2, solo, and classic classes, with separate classifications.
The regatta director, Manuel Nadal de Uhler, expects participation from between 15 and 20 boats.
“It is a regatta of about 110 nautical miles between Salou and Mallorca, and we expect between 15 and 20 boats”, he explained. The finish line is set near Dragonera to prevent vessels completing the crossing in the morning from encountering the usual calm conditions in the area.
The start is scheduled for Friday, 11 September, in front of the Club Nàutic Salou, heading towards Mallorca until the vicinity of Dragonera. The programme will kick off on Thursday, 10 September, with a skippers' meeting and a welcome dinner in Salou. Once the crossing is completed, the fleet will gather at Port Adriano, where the trophy presentation will take place on Saturday, 12 September.
Also present at the event were the manager of the Calvià Sports Institute, Carlos Veny; the commodore of the Club Náutico de Salou, Josep Oliva; and the manager of the Club Náutico de Santa Ponça, Javier Arrizabalaga.
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