VI Spanish Nautical Clubs Symposium: Nautical Tourism as a Catalyst for Sports and Social Boating
The most important gathering of the Spanish nautical sector
From October 2nd to 4th, the VI National Symposium of Nautical Clubs was held in Sanxenxo (Galicia), organized by CEACNA in collaboration with ASNAUGA. An event that brought together 181 professionals from the sector to debate the present and future of recreational boating in Spain.
Over three intense days, experts, government bodies, nautical club managers, and sector representatives addressed the most important challenges: legislation, sustainability, port management, social boating, sports training, and decarbonization.
Below is the complete symposium program with links to summaries of each presentation.
📅 Thursday, October 2nd
21:30 - Welcome Cocktail
Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo
📅 Friday, October 3rd
09:30 - Welcome to the Conference. Opening Keynote
- José Manuel Merelles Remy, Director of Galicia Tourism Agency
- Javier Ruiz de Cortázar Díaz, CEACNA President
A commitment to the future of boating: Galicia as a benchmark with 77 nautical clubs, over 10,000 berths, and a model that combines natural and sports offerings.
10:00 - Recreational Boating in Spain: Current Situation and New Legislation
- Benito Núñez Quintanilla, Secretary of State for Air and Maritime Transport
- Jordi Carrasco Abad, ANEN General Director
Tax reform, Recreational Boating Code, decarbonization, and the necessary balance in concessions to not forget the social function.
10:30 - Challenges and Future of Regional Sports Port Management (Roundtable)
- José Antonio Álvarez Vidal, President of Ports of Galicia
- Ignacio Álvarez Osorio, General Director of Andalusia Ports
- Antonio Mercant Morato, General Director of Balearic Islands Ports
- Enric Martínez Sastre, Southern Director of Catalonia Ports
Four regions, one message: we need to change the rules of the game. From interventionism to the Landlord model and against nautical gentrification.
11:30 - State Ports Law: Extensions and Expansions
- Carlos Gil de las Heras, GNGH Lawyers
12:00 - COFFEE BREAK
12:30 - New Technologies at the Service of Nautical Activities. R&D&I in the Nautical Sector: The Galician Experience
- Javier Marque Loimil, CEO Prodimar
- José Manuel Díaz Díaz, Technical Director AB8 Marine
- Pablo López, CEO Hacce Comunicaciones
Smart supply management, custom lifting equipment, and technology at the service of people (not the other way around).
13:30 - Quality, Sustainability and Environment
- Fernando Fraile, General Director ICTES
- José Antonio López Alvarellos, CEO Supernova
- Club Experiences: Luis Gómez (CN San Antonio de Ibiza), Javier Ruiz de Cortázar (CN Portonovo), Magdalena Martínez (RCN Calpe)
Nautical clubs as guardians of the sea. Q for Quality, S for Sustainability, EMAS and over 20,000 students trained in the Sea Week.
14:15 - TAPAS-LUNCH
16:00 - Sports as a Catalyst for Nautical Tourism. Nautical Clubs and Grassroots Sports (Roundtable)
- José Ramón Lete Lasa, Secretary General for Sports of the Xunta de Galicia
- Xisela Aranda, Sports Director of Pontevedra Provincial Council
- Marcos Guisasola, Sports Councilor of Sanxenxo City Council
- María Ángeles Vidal Ruiz, Managing Director of Valencia Municipal Sports Foundation
From 700 annual uses to over 20,000: the Valencian model. Sailing schools as a gateway to nautical tourism.
16:45 - Nautical Activities, New Concepts and Proposals (Roundtable)
- Jorge Aran Echabe, RCN Portosín
- Pascual Orts, CN Santa Pola
- Joan Marc Rigo, CN Cala Camba
- Héctor Espadas Fernández, CV Blanes
17:45 - Nautical Tourism in Galicia: The Government Experience
- Iván Meléndez Medela, Competitiveness Director of Galicia Tourism Agency
- Romina Fernández Pena, Tourism Director of Pontevedra Provincial Council
354,000 overnight stays, €125 average daily spending, and 365 days of navigability. Nautical tourism as a driver of de-seasonalization.
18:15 - COFFEE BREAK
18:45 - Training in Recreational Boating in Spain. Challenges of Sports Technical Personnel
- José Manuel Liceras, Director of Training Institute of Valencian Sailing Federation
- Carlos Torrado Campos, CEACNA Manager and RCN Torrevieja Manager
From vocation to profession: training, retaining, and valuing sports technicians. With how much it takes to make a samurai…
19:15 - The Membership Model: Does It Have a Future? New Users of Nautical Services
- Chimo Such, CN Altea
- Modesto Prieto, RCN Sanxenxo
- Raimón Roca, CN L’Escala
Hybrid model vs. traditional model. Democratization of the sea with nautical capital? 500 members, 2,000 boats, 9,000 sports uses.
21:30 - OFFICIAL CONGRESS DINNER
Pazo Colón (Municipality of Poio)
- CEACNA National Awards/Honors
- Tribute to Luis Enguita Melendo
📅 Saturday, October 4th
09:30 - Civil Liability in Nautical Clubs and Sports Marinas
10:00 - Taxation and Specific Accounting for Non-Profit Associations
- Maica López Galán, Senior Manager KPMG Lawyers
10:30 - Harassment Plans, Equality Plans and Work with Minors
- Cristina Pérez Vázquez, HR Director ISONOR Group
11:00 - Labor Relations in Recreational Boating: National Collective Agreement
- Javier Ruiz de Cortázar Díaz, CEACNA President
11:15 - COFFEE BREAK
11:45 - Social Boating as an Identity Mark: Challenges and Future
- José Antonio Morillo-Velarde del Peso, Head of Legal Advisory of State Ports
- Alberto Pons, Manager CN Can Picafort
- Antonio Estades, President of Balearic Association of Nautical Clubs
- Carlos Carmona Gil, President of RCN Torrevieja
“Economically, nautical clubs have nothing to do against marinas”. The only defense: the declaration of public utility and truly fulfilling the social function.
12:45 - Decarbonization in Recreational Boating
- Raúl García Redondo, Repsol
HVO, the fuel that reduces CO2 by 90% without changing engines. Scrubbers, LNG, electricity, nuclear, methanol… what’s the solution?
13:15 - Apostleship of the Sea Stella Maris
- Mariel Larriba, Stella Maris Vigo Manager
13:30 - Symposium Conclusions: Nautical Clubs Essential for Social Boating
- Presidents of CEACNA Regional Nautical Club Associations
Social boating exists and must be recognized in tenders. Transparency, democratization of the sea, and the difference between real clubs and “fake” clubs.
13:45 - Official Closing of the 6th National Nautical Clubs Symposium
- Marta Villaverde, Minister of the Sea of the Xunta de Galicia
Galicia as the home of all nautical clubs. 128 ports, 10,700 berths, Blue Economy Strategy 2024-2027, and the concept of “Galicia-Single Port”.
Following: Galicia Calidade and Galicia Sabe a Mar Tasting
Want to know more about any presentation? Click on the links to read the complete summaries of each talk and roundtable.
Organized by CEACNA in collaboration with ASNAUGA