22 historic vessels have attended the event, 7 of them centenarian
The maritime festival Maresmar-Trobada de Centenaris 2018 organized by the company Varador 2000, which has taken place this weekend on the port of Arenys de Mar, was attended by almost 5,000 people. Visitors could enjoy the presence of 22 historic boats, 7 of them centenarian such as the Santa Eulàlia small schooner, flagship of the Museu Maritim de Barcelona, the Sirius brigantine, the Sant Ramon sailboat, the A-72 Arosa or the Far Barcelona jakt, among many others. Most of them have already announced their predisposition to repeat the experience and others who couldn’t attend the event for many reasons have also announced their will to be present at the next edition.
The visiting public has also been able to enjoy a lot of live cultural activities (expositions, talks, conferences, books presentations…), daytime and nighttime concerts, gastronomic activities, theatre performances next to the dock, maritime performances, passacaglias, an amazing naval battle simulation, aquatic and sports shows, trade workshops, activities with rowing boats and a poster contest for the next edition. The little ones have also been able to enjoy a large pirate boat ready to climb to their sails, to make a boarding, to enjoy the 20 metre zip line and to live pirate adventures on their tale workshops, in addition to other leisure activities.
According to Xiqui Mas, CEO of Varador 2000, “generally speaking we have accomplished the main objectives we set us when we decided to start up this maritime event. We are satisfied with how all has worked and we believe we have made the first step forward to project this festival into the future. We have seen all the visitors enjoying the activities we have planned and we think that Maresmar can become a prestigious, familiar and tourist attraction”.
During the two days that has last the Maresmar, many authorities and celebrities of the country have visited the event, such as the vice president of the Government of Catalonia, Pere Aragonés, minister of Territory and Sustainable Development, Damià Calvet, the president of the Diputació of Barcelona, Mercè Conesa, and many other mayors and councilors from many towns of Maresme headed by the mayoress of Arenys de Mar, Annabel Moreno.
Mas also points out the support received in this Varador 2000 project from the Maritime Musuem of Barcelona, the Nautical Faculty of Barcelona, Ports of the Generalitat, the Diputació of Barcelona, the Consorci de Promoció Turística Costa del Maresme, the Consell Comarcal del Maresme, the city councils of Arenys de Mar and Mataró, and other institutions, entities and associations, as well as different private sponsors. However, he comes to the conclusion that so that Maresmar is viable in the future and can be compared with the important maritime festivals that are made in Europe “it will be necessary to provide it with more economic resources”.
During the prior days to the celebration of the Maresmar, the nautical base Mataró Marina Barcelona took in part of the historic and centenarian vessels fleet which would later participate in the I Crossing of the Coast of Maresme between Mataró and Arenys de Mar. During their stay in the capital of Maresme they also received the visit of one thousand people, who enjoyed the chance to experience the astounding historic boats and the little ones the programmed activities on board a pirate boat.
