The Mediterranean: A Place to Learn and Share at the 44th Copa del Rey

Children and older generations shared a day of science, sailing and discovery during the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

Listen, observe, experiment and, of course, sail.

During the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE, together with the Real Club Náutico de Palma, we shared a day designed to discover the Mediterranean from different perspectives and bring the sea closer to people of different generations.

Children and older participants from the local foundations Amar Ucraïna, Punts amb Vida and Inca Mallorca Solidaria joined us for the different activities, learning together, working as a team and enjoying an experience that ended in the best possible setting: the Bay of Palma during the regatta.

Stories that inspire us to sail

The day began with Hugo, from Hugo Sailing, who shared his experience and some of the adventures from his voyage aboard Emotion.

It was an opportunity to discover sailing through a real-life experience and understand everything a voyage can involve: adapting to new situations, learning, becoming more independent and experiencing life at sea.

From there, the day continued at our Sustainability Corner, where participants explored the Mediterranean through science and hands-on activities.

Observing and listening to the Mediterranean

What is the water in the Bay of Palma really like? What can we discover by looking at it more closely? What does the Mediterranean sound like beneath the surface?

Through a series of activities, we observed water samples collected in the bay during our scientific outings, revealing a world that often goes unnoticed by the naked eye.

Through the immersive Mediterranean Sounds experience, participants listened to the sounds of cetaceans and discovered that getting to know the sea also means learning how to listen to it.

Posters from Fundación Marilles helped us learn more about the species and ecosystems found along our coasts, while materials from Observadores del Mar introduced participants to citizen science and showed how anyone can contribute to our knowledge and protection of the marine environment.

Learning through experimentation

Science was also explored through hands-on experimentation.

In one of the workshops, we looked at buoyancy to understand, in a practical way, why boats float and the principles that make sailing possible.

Children and older participants took part together, turning scientific concepts into simple, shared experiences.

Because there is no age limit to learning about the Mediterranean, and approaching it through curiosity and experimentation can help us build a different relationship with what we want to protect.

From theory to the sea

After observing, listening and experimenting, it was time to sail.

Participants headed out into the Bay of Palma aboard our two sustainable vessels: Galaxie, our 22-metre sailing yacht with 100% electric propulsion, and Stenella, our solar-electric vessel.

From the sea, they were able to watch the regatta and experience the Copa del Rey from a completely different perspective, surrounded by some of the boats and crews that make the Bay of Palma one of the major stages of international sailing each year.

A sea for every generation

The day brought together science, education, sailing and shared experiences, but above all, it brought people of different ages together around something they all had in common: the Mediterranean.

Children and older generations learned together, shared activities and discovered different ways of observing and understanding the sea.

The experience reflects an idea that lies at the heart of Fundació Joves Navegants: the more we understand the Mediterranean, the more reasons we have to protect it.

And to protect it, we first need to make sure that more and more people have the opportunity to discover it, experience it and feel part of it.

Photography by Ale Conrado Carcasona