Torrevieja’s carpentry students launch another Vela Latina sailing boat

Torrevieja has a long seafaring tradition stretching back hundreds of years which includes the beautifully restored Pacual Flores which was originally made on Torrevieja’s beach front in 1917.

Continuing these traditions are students of carpentry who have been working on the cleanup, repair and development of all the boats belonging to the Escuela Municipal de Vela Latina.

Physical Education Students from the University Miguel Hernández in Elche who are in the 3rd year of Degree Course in Rudiments of Nautical Sports have been gaining hands on experience plus theoretical and practical training in the rebuilding of these Vela Latina boats of which eight are owned by Torrevieja’s Sailing School.

Torrevieja’s Councillor for Promotion and Development, Jose Antonio Sanchez Garcia, announced that as part of the initiative with the Carpintería de Ribera del Taller de Empleo Mediterráneo IV that the city now has eight yachts, all made from wood,, that are  indicative of those found in Torrevieja at the turn of the 20th Century that have been restored; La Golondrina, La Paloma, La Bella Lola, La Caña Dulce, El Abanico, Maria Eugenia, El Toribio and Anabella.

The Vela Latina’s are part of the history of Torrevieja, are used for the promotion of the city and have been featured in motion picture and TV productions. During the months of June to December, they are used by the school to teach the age-old art of navigation. More projects are in store to further develop the fleet of boats, with the help of the workshops and the department of Physical Education at the University Miguel Hernández in Elche, of which 880 students partook in course work in 2009.

Keith Nicol

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