- Nearly 400 sailors and 45 yachts from more than ten countries took part in this year’s regatta, held from 8 to 11 July. The event unfolded against the backdrop of Barcelona’s most intense heatwave on record, unusual easterly winds and dramatic racing right up to the finish.
- Centuries of sailing heritage, international debuts and some of the world’s most iconic classic yachts returned to Barcelona’s waterfront.
- Hallowe’en, Yanira, Clarionet, Odysseus, Ándale and Le Temps Perdu secured top honours in their respective classes. While Germany claimed the Enric Puig Trophy thanks to victories by Legolas and Varuna VII
Few sights capture the spirit of the Mediterranean quite like a fleet of classic yachts sailing across Barcelona’s skyline. This week, as the city experienced the hottest temperatures ever recorded, almost fifty classic and vintage vessels took to the water for the XIX Puig Vela Clàssica, facing weather conditions rarely seen at this time of year. An unexpected easterly wind helped shape one of the most distinctive editions in the regatta’s history, marked by several races decided by the narrowest of margins, the return of century-old yachts and the presence of some of the most celebrated names in international classic sailing.
Hallowe’en
For four days, Barcelona’s waterfront once again became a floating museum of maritime heritage. Historic yachts such as Hallowe’en and Bon Temps, both over a century old, sailed alongside modern projects inspired by legendary designs, including Victoria, while iconic vessels such as Manitou and Eilean added further prestige to the fleet. Blending maritime heritage, competitive sailing and Mediterranean lifestyle, the Puig Vela Clàssica has firmly established itself as one of the leading events on the international classic sailing calendar.
This year’s regatta brought together 45 yachts from more than ten countries across eight classes and delivered one of the most closely fought editions to date. Several titles were decided by mere seconds, while the prestigious Enric Puig Trophy ultimately travelled to Germany thanks to the combined performances of Legolas and Varuna VII.
Gael
A regatta shaped by record-breaking heat
The Mediterranean did not show its usual face this summer. Extreme temperatures prevented the formation of the expected Garbí, the thermal south-westerly breeze that sailors rely on during Barcelona’s summer afternoons. It made a brief appearance on the opening day but never reached the minimum strength required for racing, forcing organisers to abandon the scheduled races after hours of waiting.
Conditions changed dramatically over the weekend with the arrival of an easterly wind more typical of autumn than July. Blowing between 9 and 11 knots on friday before increasing to 11-14 knots on saturday and generating waves of up to 1.5 metres, it allowed the race committee of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona to complete the programme using two coastal courses.
Hallowe’en marks its centenary with victory
It is rare to see a fleet of seven majestic Big Boats competing together in Spanish waters, making this year’s Barcelona gathering particularly special.
Cariad, owned by Tim Hartnoll, took an early lead after winning the opening race on corrected time. Close behind was the ever-dangerous Hallowe’en, owned by Iñigo Strez, followed by Gael I, Sumurun and Cambria. Although Cambria was first across the finish line, corrected times placed her fifth overall.
Sumurum
In the decisive second race, Hallowe’en claimed victory while Cariad finished third, allowing the centenarian yacht to celebrate her 100th anniversary with an overall victory. Cariad secured second place overall, with Gael I completing the podium.
Cambria
Yanira, Clarionet and Odysseus live up to expectations
The Classic classes produced three standout winners, although by very different routes. In Classic 2, Britain’s Clarionet, owned by Andrew Harvey, dominated the competition with two race victories, finishing ahead of Sea Fever and Asu
Clarionet
In the Classic IOR class, Juan Meseguer’s Odysseus once again proved its class, winning both races ahead of the French Algol V (CN Estartit), which remained in contention until the very end and pushed the eventual winner all the way.
Odysseus
The closest contest came in Classic 1. Eugenia V (SN Saint-Tropez) led after the opening race, ahead of Yanira (RCN Barcelona), owned by Jan Heuninck, and Nerissa (RC Marítim Barcelona), owned by Leonardo García. On the decisive final day, Yanira reversed the standings to draw level with Eugenia V on three points and claim overall victory on countback thanks to her win in the final race. Nerissa secured third place overall, while Beg Hir and local yacht Bakea rounded out the top five.
Yanira
Vintage yachts tested by the easterly wind
The vintage gaff-rigged yachts faced the toughest challenge of all. Their smaller size and traditional sail plans were less suited to the strong winds and sea conditions, particularly on the long upwind sections.
Only Le Temps Perdu, helmed by Nelson Hausmann, managed to complete the opening race. In the shorter second race, Raptus crossed the line first, but Le Temps Perdu’s consistency throughout the regatta earned her the overall title.
Le Temps Perdu
In Bermudian 1, Varuna VII proved the most consistent performer. After Argyll won the first race by just 12 seconds on corrected time, technical issues prevented the British yacht from starting the second race. This opened the door for Varuna VII and owner Jens Kellinghusen to secure overall victory ahead of Argentina’s Recluta.
Varuna
In Bermudian 2, France’s Ándale claimed the title ahead of local favourite Islander, while Perla edged Almarán New York for the final podium place.
Ándale
Legolas claims the Modern Classic title after a thrilling duel with Melmac
Legolas (RCN Palma), skippered by Jens Rickie, found a formidable rival in Melmac (RCN Barcelona), helmed by Belén García Guillén. Despite their very different designs and dimensions, the two yachts were separated by the narrowest of margins on corrected time, with Legolas edging both races to secure the title.
While the leading pair remained inseparable throughout the regatta, the gap to the rest of the fleet was considerably larger. Victoria (YC San Diego), owned by Peter Silvester, completed the podium, while local entries Roxanne, owned by Jordi Gallés, and Phidias, owned by Jordi Puig, finished level on nine points in the battle for fourth place. Roxanne ultimately secured the position thanks to a better result in the final race.
Legolas
More than a regatta
As tradition dictates, the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona awarded the Enric Puig Trophy, recognising the best-performing pair of yachts from the same country racing in different classes.
This year, the honour went to Germany, thanks to the combined victories of Legolas in Modern Classic and Varuna VII in Bermudian 1.
The event also hosted the presentation of the 2025 Spanish Classic Sailing Cup, awarded by the Spanish Association of Vintage and Classic Yachts (AEBEC) to Clarionet as the national circuit champion.
Victoria
Part of both the International Mediterranean Championship and the Mare Nostrum Trophy-Spanish Classic Yacht Cup, Puig Vela Clàssica has become one of the cornerstone events of the international season, alongside regattas such as Cannes, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and Newport
Bon Temps
Where history still sails
Some yachts compete for trophies. Others carry history with them wherever they go.
Among the fleet, Hallowe’en stood out as one of sailing’s great legends. Designed by William Fife and launched in 1926, she famously won the Fastnet Race by almost ten hours and has now added a third Puig Vela Clàssica Big Boat title to victories achieved in 2018 and 2022.
Another crowd favourite was Bon Temps, a ketch built in Mallorca in 1926 and recently returned to the Godó family nearly a century after it was originally commissioned. Its remarkable journey has become one of the most moving stories in Spanish classic sailing.
Recluta
The regatta also welcomed the Mediterranean debut of Victoria, the first yacht in the Q7 Reimagined project, which reimagines a legendary design using modern materials and technology while remaining faithful to the original concept.
Other notable participants included Argentina’s Recluta, built from design plans left unfinished for almost eighty years, as well as two true icons of classic yachting: Manitou, once the favourite yacht of US President John F. Kennedy, and Eilean, the William Fife ketch immortalised in Duran Duran’s famous Rio video and painstakingly restored to her former glory.
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