Club Nàutic Vilanova
Club Nàutic Vilanova is a long-established sailing club and marina on the Catalan Mediterranean coast in Vilanova i la Geltrú, about 45 kilometres southwest of Barcelona. The club runs an integrated marina with more than 800 berths for boats up to around 15 metres, a modern clubhouse with restaurant overlooking the harbour, and a sailing school at Platja de Ribes Roges. Alongside its racing team in Optimist, ILCA 4 and ILCA 6, it offers a summer nautical campus for young people, cruising and fishing sections, and a busy social programme. With roots in the 1920s, official inauguration in 1957 and around 700 members, it ranks among the major nautical clubs in Catalonia.
History
The history of Club Nàutic Vilanova goes back to the 1920s, when the first rowing craft and sailing patins appeared on the Vilanova shore. Led by Josep Solà Morell, members sought suitable premises after the Civil War; in 1942 the Sección Náutica de Educación y Descanso was founded under the Obra Sindical and survived on voluntary effort and monthly dues of two pesetas. The first facility of today’s club was a wooden shed donated by the Argimbau shipping company on the outer eastern mole; the official inauguration of Club Nàutic Vilanova took place there in 1957. Among some 50 founders were first president Josep Solà i Morell and his successor José María Hernández “El Capí”; the fleet then included wooden Snipe dinghies. In June 1960 the club had 150 members and 31 registered boats. Later it moved within the fishing basin, and the long-term development of the present site—begun in 1973—was completed in 1989. Today the club offers more than 850 berths and around 700 members and is regarded as Catalonia’s second-largest nautical club. The modern social building was rebuilt on the same spot with an added upper floor for the restaurant; together with refurbished changing rooms and an extended sports esplanade it aims to host top-level competition and open the harbour to the city.
Information
Facilities
Marina with more than 800 berths, clubhouse with restaurant, sailing school at Platja de Ribes Roges, boatyard, changing rooms and extended sports area, swimming pool.
Activities
Racing (Optimist, ILCA), nautical campus and sailing school, cruising section, fishing, diving, social events, recreational navigation licence courses.
Youth section
Active youth and racing section with Optimist groups plus ILCA 4 and ILCA 6; summer Campus Nàutic for ages 6–18.
Guest berths
Yes, berths on request
Boating license training
Available: 1
Navigation Licence: 2 h theory, 4 h practice; further PNB, PER and Yacht Captain courses via the nautical academy