Crew members of sixteen Latin sailing dinghies gathered last Saturday in the tourist town of Playa Blanca to participate in the Christmas regatta that paid tribute to Marcial Martín 'El Rabuo' and Ramón Martín 'Monso' organized by the Yaiza City Council and the Insular Federation of Latin Sailing, entities that promoted this exciting meeting of the Lanzarote sports family to remember two pioneers of the competition in Playa Blanca.
Elba Martín Barrios, Concepción Barrios Tejera and Yesica Martín González received a plaque and recognition flowers on behalf of the family of 'Monso', as well as the manifest affection of dozens of people from various generations linked to Latin sailing who offered their heartfelt ovation.
The Marcial 'El Rabuo' Christmas Tournament has been, since last year, the flagship competition in tribute to Marcial Martín, but this 2019 the recognition has been extended to Ramón Martín Umpiérrez 'Monso', son of Marcial who recently passed away.
'Monso' was a boat builder and another of the great promoters of Latin sailing in Playa Blanca. "Almost all the boys from Playa Blanca grew up watching 'Monso' build boats and sailing in them," recalled several of the southern athletes.
The morning in Playa Blanca was full of memories, but also of reunions of knowledgeable spectators. Benigno Caraballo, a retired sailor from Playa Blanca, participated in the tribute to 'Rabuo' together with friends and family. 40 years ago, Benigno was the first owner of the Furia dinghy and could not resist taking a photo next to the emblematic boat, the oldest among those currently competing, and reminisced about the times when he competed alongside 'El Rabuo' in the San Ginés regatta.
Suspended due to lack of wind
Despite the fact that the lack of wind on Saturday caused the suspension of the Marcial 'El Rabuo' Christmas Trophy regatta, the Latin sailing family spent "an integrating, joyful and tremendously emotional day", according to the City Council. The boats managed to go out up to two times, first in front of the Marina Rubicón breakwater and then in the Castillo del Águila area, but the calm sea finally prevented the exhibition with the full potential of the dinghies.
The president of the Canary Islands Federation of Latin Sailing Dinghies, Daniel Perera, the president of the Insular Federation, Luis Toledo, and the councilors of Sports and Education of Yaiza, Ángel Lago and Silvia Santana, respectively, presided over the posthumous tribute to the two figures of Latin sailing in Playa Blanca. The Yaiza City Council thanks all the sailors, family members and the general public for their participation and the collaboration of the Marina Rubicón marina.
