Sailing opens the first weekend of Nautical Christmas in Benidorm

Benidorm Yacht Club, in collaboration with the Department of Sports and the Sailing Federation of the Region of Valencia, will celebrate its Nautical Christmas for the 44th consecutive year, to be held in the Bay of Benidorm this coming weekend, on the 16th and 17th December and January 2018, Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th.

The Councilor for Sports, Arturo Cabrillo, has presented this morning the event with Jaime Samper, president of the Yacht Club, and the sports coordinator of the race, Rafael Madaleno. Cabrillo has indicated that this weekend will be held "sailing regattas with boats 420, Standard Laser, Laser Radial Olympic and Laser 4.7 as protagonists" and that January will take place Children's Vela.

The councilman recalled that these regattas are "one of the oldest that are celebrated in the calendar" and that they have been played "for 44 editions uninterruptedly". Arturo Cabrillo has also stated that "they will be eligible for the preparation of the teams that will represent the Valencian Region in national competitions". Regarding the participation in the race, the municipal head of Sports, has announced that it is expected the attendance of 350 sailors from "all clubs of the Valencian Community, and the Murcian, Catalan, Balearic and Madrid federations".

On the other hand, Jaime Samper has wished "to sailors and companions a very good stay" in Benidorm and has pointed out that the athletes "do not come alone". Most come "accompanied by their parents" and estimates that a thousand people will visit the city on the occasion of this competition. Samper has also encouraged all the neighbors to "lean out on the balcony of the Castle" to enjoy those days the spectacle of the regattas.

The coordinator of the race, Rafael Madaleno, has emphasized that the nautical holidays of Benidorm is a test that "parents like a lot" because "the racing field is close to the bay and the club." In addition, the sea is usually calm, which gives them peace of mind and confidence.

The program of activities this weekend will start at 9.30 in the morning with the opening of the race office. The start time of the tests (always depending on the state of the sea) is expected at noon on Saturday and at 11.00 on Sunday morning. The delivery of trophies, when the competition ends, around 4.30pm.