Nautical activities are the bread and butter of an archipelago ever open to the sea. Maritime competitions are the high points of the sporting calendar, especially the many internationally prestigious sailing regattas in Palma Bay. In these waters sailors vie for the Trofeo Princesa Sofía, the Copa de Su Majestad el Rey, and the Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona, occasions for celebration by the city, the island, and all the Illes Balears. It was here in the Bay that the greatest sporting event in the history of the city was partly held: the 1999 University Olympic Games. To provide the Games with the necessary facilities the whole sporting infrastructure was modernised, an action that benefited and will continue to benefit both local people and visitors.
Among the installations that were given a sharp boost by this very special sporting event was the Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova, a real hub and powerhouse for water sports in the islands. Diving, windsurfing, game fishing, water-skiing? the visitor has a limitless range of sports to chose from. The abundance of schools in which to acquire or perfect the skills that these nautical sports require guarantees a magnificent holiday in permanent contact with the sea.
