L’Escala has once again become a meeting point for traditional Mediterranean sailing with the 29th L’Escala Lateen Sail Gathering—an event dedicated to preserving, sharing, and promoting a maritime heritage that is integral to the identity of this seaside town.
The event was jointly organized by the Club Nàutic l’Escala and the Association of Friends of Lateen Sailing of L’Escala, with the support of the L’Escala Town Council, the Anchovy and SaltMuseum, and Ports de la Generalitat. These organizations share a commitment to keeping alive a practice closely linked to the region’s maritime history and culture.
The gathering brought together 18 traditional vessels and 111 crew members from various
parts of the Catalan and Northern Catalan Mediterranean, including Badalona, Le Barcarès, Roses, Cadaqués, Canet-en-Roussillon, Sant Pol de Mar, Arenys de Mar, and L’Escala. This broad participation turned the day into an occasion for camaraderie and exchange among sailors, reaffirming the role of traditional sailing as a cultural and maritime link between regions united by a shared seafaring tradition.
The gathering is part of the L’Escala Lateen Sail Promotion Project, launched by the Yacht Club with the aim of preserving the cultural and historical legacy of traditional sailing, encouraging its practice among new generations, and raising community awareness about the importance of conserving this heritage.
Currently, L’Escala has around twenty lateen-rigged boats distributed across the marina, La Clota beach, and the outer basin, forming one of the most significant traditional sailing fleets on the Costa Brava.
The opening ceremony was attended by Martí Guinart, Councilor for Economic Promotion and Tourism of L’Escala Town Council; Catalina Peraferrer, President of the Association of Friends of the Lateen Sail of L’Escala; Kiku Despuig, President of the Guild of Shipwrights and Caulkers of Catalonia; and Mariona Font, Director of the Anchovy and Salt Museum.
The event included official speeches, a presentation of the gathering’s route, the presentation of commemorative gifts to the participants, and a group photo to mark the occasion.
