The La Ballena Alegre Sailing Club in Sant Pere Pescador hosted the 2026 European Sailing Skiff Cup from October 9 to 12, an event that brought together 83 European sailors and coincided with the centennial of this boat, one of the most iconic symbols of Catalonia’s nautical heritage.
In the Senior Roller Skating category, the victory went to Lea Sitjà (Club Natació Badalona), who took the top spot on the podium in the first division ahead of Julian Vinue Biarnes (Club Nàutic Sitges) and Oriol Castello Ferrera (Club Marítim Cubelles). In the second senior category, Mateu Mulet Lladó (Club Patí a Vela Barcelona) took the win.
In the women’s division, Anna Pujol Rius (Club Natació Barcelona) was the top finisher in the Senior category, while Clara Brugiafreddo Maichel (Club Patí a Vela Barcelona) was the top finisher in the Junior category.
Bernat Mulet Lladó, of the Club Patí a Vela Barcelona, won the Junior Skate category and also took first place in the Children’s category. His clubmate Mark Sánchez Corrales led the Youth category. The results of the youngest competitors shine a spotlight on the class’s new generations.
A project to promote roller skating
Participation in the Cup is part of the 2025–2026 project to promote the technical and sporting aspects of speed skating, which began with the technical clinic and the 2025 Spanish Championship. Its objectives are to expand the base of participants, strengthen training and competition opportunities, and raise the sport’s profile.
The Fundació Barcelona Nàutica has played a key role in promoting the Junior Skiff class and fostering generational renewal. The initiative has also received support from the Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya (UFEC), the Catalan Sports Council and the Girona Costa Brava Tourism Board, as well as the collaboration of the Club Nàutic l’Escala and organizations associated with the class.
La Ballena Alegre plans to give skates the same level of attention, visibility, and organizational ambition as classes such as the Optimist, the IQFOiL, or the Hobie Cat, drawing on the organizational experience, communication channels, and network of relationships developed through major competitions.
A Night of the Bats
The program also included a biodiversity awareness activity: “Bat Night,” part of the club’s “Learn to Preserve” project. With Carles Flaquer, who is affiliated with the Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences and the BETA Technology Center at the University of Vic, participants and their families explored the bat boxes and listened to these animals using ultrasound detectors.
The race was organized by the club on behalf of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, in collaboration with the Catalan Sailing Federation and ADIPAV.