From 6 to 8 April, over twenty boats will be taking part in the twentieth edition of the Ophiusa Regatta
For the second year running, the Port Olímpic has been chosen as the starting point for this nautical competition
For the second year running, the Port Olímpic is hosting the start of the Ophiusa Regatta, a competition that links the Catalan coast with the island of Formentera. The regatta is celebrating its twentieth edition, starting tomorrow and continuing until 8 April, coinciding with Easter week.
A total of 23 boats have registered for the event, 18 of which will be setting out from Barcelona‘s Port Olímpic, with the remaining 5 starting from Port de Sa Ràpita, in Mallorca. There will be a separate route and classification for the final leg.
Like last year, the entire competition can be followed live via satellite on the official Ophiusa Regatta website. Last year‘s race was viewed 4,000 times.
The competition includes a Skipper‘s Meeting, which is taking place this evening and will be hosted by television meteorologist Dani Ramírez. The start is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 am, and the first boats are expected to cross the finishing line in Formentera during the morning of 7 April. The prize-giving ceremony will be held at 7 pm on Saturday 8 April in Port de la Savina in Formentera
The Ophiusa Regatta attracts international competitors
The Ophiusa Regatta was established in April 2004 in response to the interest of the many yachtsmen and women who wanted to spend the Easter holidays in Formentera, taking advantage of the low season for tourism.
Port d’Aiguadolç in Sitges was the first port to host the start, but since last year, the regatta has started at Barcelona‘s Port Olímpic. The name of the regatta comes from Greek and means ‘land of serpents’, which is how the Greeks referred to the island of Formentera.
The Port Olímpic promotes amateur sailing
The popularisation and promotion of nautical sports is one of the strategic cornerstones of the new Port Olímpic model, promoted by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) under the auspices of Ajuntament de Barcelona since 2020. This is why hosting the start of the Ophiusa Regatta fits so well with the aim of fostering recreational nautical activities, training and nautical sports.
The transformation of the Port Olímpic is under way, and is progressing steadily towards completion prior to the 37th edition of the America‘s Cup, which is to be held in Barcelona in 2024. The renovation of the facilities that are to house the first city‘s first blue economy centre is currently underway. Furthermore, last September work began on the Dic de Recer breakwater which will become a new seafront promenade open to the public.
In addition to these projects, a new access point connecting the city to the port is also under construction, along with the new ‘Balcó Gastronòmic’, which is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024.