Real Club de Regatas de Alicante
Real Club de Regatas de Alicante (RCRA) is one of Spain's oldest and most established nautical clubs, founded on 23 April 1889 and granted the Royal title in 1900. The club is based on Alicante Bay at the port, with its historic main site at Muelle de Poniente and a second sports base, La Cantera, dedicated to dinghy sailing. Its programme covers cruiser and dinghy sailing, Olympic and leisure rowing, kayaking and an active fishing section. Modern facilities include a swimming pool, gym, sailing, rowing and kayak schools, and more than 150 events each year. The youth programme has achieved international success, including Optimist world team titles and strong ILCA fleets at European regattas.
History
Real Club de Regatas de Alicante was founded on 23 April 1889 by a group of water-sports enthusiasts. Its first headquarters were on Playa del Postiguet; from 1890 the club moved its facilities to Alicante port in the Casa de Botes. The first regattas were held in 1890, linked to the city festivities and in cooperation with the town council. In 1900 the Queen Regent, on behalf of Alfonso XIII, granted the club the title of Real and endowed a prize for club-organised competitions. From 1902 the club's rowers dominated Spanish championships and the Copa de la Reina for nearly two decades. Alfonso XIII visited the club for the first time in 1905 and laid the first stone of a new building in 1909, inaugurated by the monarch in February 1911. From the late 1950s through the 1960s the club grew and won numerous Spanish titles, especially in rowing, while sailing expanded with new boat materials. In the 1960s the swimming section also rose to national prominence through Chicoy's successes. Ahead of its first centenary the club achieved titles in classes including 470, Snipe, Vaurien and cruisers. In 1988 three club sailors competed at the Seoul Olympics. In the early 1980s La Cantera was adapted for dinghy sailing and the sailing school, making RCRA the only Spanish club with two sports bases for cruisers and dinghies. In later decades the club hosted many Spanish and European championships across most classes. The first centenary was marked by an extensive national and international regatta calendar. Today, with more than 130 years of history, the club has begun its second century under a new board, coinciding with Alicante's quincentenary. The club holds the Blue Flag for environmental quality and was the first Spanish nautical club with AENOR ISO 9002 certification. Major events include Open Curricán, Trofeo Cristo del Mar and Trofeo Tabarca – Ciudad de Alicante.
Information
Facilities
Main headquarters at Muelle de Poniente, La Cantera for dinghy sailing, sailing, rowing and kayak schools, swimming pool, gym, online shop and virtual office
Activities
Cruiser and dinghy sailing, rowing, kayaking, fishing, regattas, Semana Náutica, gymnastics, yoga, aquagym, more than 150 annual events
Youth section
Sailing, rowing and kayaking schools with courses for all ages; international success in Optimist and ILCA