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Benidorm Bay Launches the 52nd Christmas Sailing Festival This Weekend

 

Benidorm / 11 December 2025

 

The waters of Benidorm Bay will host the opening phase of the 52nd Christmas Sailing Festival this weekend, one of the longest-running and most historic sailing events in Spain and the Valencian Community. Organised by the Benidorm Yacht Club, with sponsorship from Benidorm City Council and support from the Valencian Community Sailing Federation, the festival will feature two competitive phases.

 

The first phase takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December, showcasing Dinghy Class regattas with 420 and ILCA boats. The second phase, featuring the Optimist Children's Sailing Regattas, will follow after the Christmas holiday on 10 and 11 January 2026.

 

During the presentation, the Councillor for Sports, Javier Jordá, joined the President of the Benidorm Yacht Club, Jaime Samper, and the club’s sports coordinator, Rafa Madaleno. Samper highlighted that the event is “one of the oldest sailing competitions held both in Spain and in the Valencian Community, now proudly surpassing half a century of history.”

 

Councillor Jordá emphasised that these Christmas regattas are “one of the most deeply rooted competitions in our sporting calendar,” drawing strong interest from families, sailing clubs and spectators who gather in the port area to enjoy the festival. He added that the event attracts a large number of sailors from across the Valencian Community each year.

 

Competition Details

The Dinghy Class events include:

• 420 (double-handed) boats competing in Under-19 and Under-17 categories, scoring towards the regional ranking.
• ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 classes, competing in both local and regional events.
• The Children’s Sailing Regatta will feature:
• Optimist B category (ages 8–14), competing for regional ranking points.
• Optimist A and C categories, participating as invited classes.

 

Results will contribute to selections for teams representing the Valencian Community in national competitions.

 

Around 250 sailors from clubs across the region are expected to take part, creating a spectacular maritime scene with Benidorm Island as the backdrop. Thirty young sailors from the Benidorm Yacht Club Sailing School will compete across the 420, ILCA and Optimist classes, aiming to represent their club and city with distinction.

 

Programme Schedule

Saturday 13 December

• 09:30 – Opening of the regatta office
• 12:00 – First races

Sunday 14 December

• 11:00 – Racing resumes
• 16:30 – Awards ceremony (approx.)

 

A total of six races per cass are planned, with one discard allowed after four races have been completed.

 

The Benidorm Yacht Club expressed its gratitude to the event’s sponsors and partners, including the Alicante Provincial Council, Valencian Sailing Federation, Generalitat Valenciana – Comunitat de l’Esport, Generali Insurance, Bali Group, Mal Pas Group and RA Benidorm.

 

Councillor Jordá concluded by congratulating the Yacht Club for “keeping alive a regatta with such deep history and tradition” and thanked them for “their continued effort to promote nautical sports in Benidorm throughout the year, from sailing and rowing to windsurfing and beyond.”