Vintage Yachts Make Waves in Modern Barcelona
Barcelona hosts the XVIII Puig Vela Clàssica, a refined celebration of classic sailing, heritage, and elegance on the Mediterranean.
As classic sails once again grace Barcelona’s waterfront, the eighteenth edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica unfolds with characteristic grace.
Running from 9 to 12 July 2025, this celebrated regatta transforms the Catalan capital into a rarefied arena of maritime tradition, where beauty, heritage and competition sail in unison.
Credit: Puig Vela Clasica
Hosted by the prestigious Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, the regatta brings together more than 400 sailors and a fleet of classic yachts, each a testament to the elegance and craftsmanship of 19th and 20th-century naval design.
Spanning four days, with three dedicated to racing, the event is now firmly established among the world’s foremost gatherings of classic sailing, alongside iconic destinations such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Newport.
This year marks a return to tradition after the 2024 edition’s integration into the America’s Cup Premier Regatta Series.
Back on its customary July dates, the Puig Vela Clàssica reclaims its singular identity: a celebration not just of competition, but of timeless design and seafaring heritage.
The racecourses have been designed to bring the fleet close to shore, offering exceptional views from the city’s beaches and promenades. Distances range from 12 to 19 nautical miles, with routes tailored to take advantage of Barcelona’s summer winds.
So far, conditions have proven favourable. Gentle easterly breezes on opening day are giving way to light southerlies, supporting steady performance across the fleet. Calm seas and a mild reprieve from the recent heatwave have created near-perfect conditions, with only light drizzle forecast.
Each day, yachts set out at 11 a.m., with races beginning from 1 p.m., weather permitting. Viewpoints such as the Maremàgnum bridge and the Moll de la Fusta offer exceptional vantage points for those wishing to admire these graceful vessels under sail.
As ever, the event reflects Puig’s enduring commitment to the preservation of nautical heritage. The Barcelona-based luxury house, organiser and patron of the regatta, has shaped the event into a cultural institution, where elegance, authenticity and sustainability come to life on the water.
Among this year’s highlights is the debut of Star Sapphire, a British yacht designed in 1957 by Jack Laurent Giles, one of the great names in 20th-century naval architecture.
Commissioned by a member of the Molins family and built at the Beltrami shipyards in Genoa, the yacht was an ambitious reinterpretation of the motor yacht, fusing innovation with refined form.
After decades of changing ownership and a long period of neglect, Star Sapphire underwent a meticulous restoration in 2005–2006. Her appearance in the regatta is a poignant return to prominence and a celebration of enduring maritime design.
The Puig Vela Clàssica offers a graceful pause, where the past sails alongside the present in quiet splendour.
