The final chapter
In the 21st century, the threads of the past began to weave together again, with stories from the old coming together to start the class anew.
In the second half of the 20th century, Spain was still reeling from the ravages of war, but in time rifts were healed and the political state settled. The reinstatement of the monarchy in 1975 led to the new King, Juan Carlos I, the grandson of Alfonso XIII taking his place on the throne. Just like his grandfather, the new King was a very keen sportsman and was a top level sailor in his own right, representing Spain in the Dragon class at the Kiel Olympics in 1972.
Following his abdication in 2014, Juan Carlos decided to revisit his beloved sport of sailing. Seeking out opportunities for competitive racing, he was invited to sail on the recently restored, and now quite singular Six Metre, Acacia III.
The King fell in love all over again with the sport, and particularly with the Six Metres. His Majesty decided that the boats were so special that the class warranted reviving in Spain, and, under his gentle guiding influence, a new fleet began to grow.
Fierce competition in Sanxenxo, Spain, June 2022. ©SailingShots by María Muiña Photography
Since 2016 the Spanish fleet has grown in numbers and international standing, with around a dozen Sixes now regularly racing in the northern waters of Sanxenxo in Galicia. With local conditions allowing for a more extended racing season than some other areas in Europe, the fleet now holds regular racing from the spring through to the autumn.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos I at the helm of his Six Metre Gallant at the Copa de Espana, June 2022. ©SailingShots by María Muiña Photography
In addition, the port welcomed the European Championships in September 2021 and now the World Championships in June 2022. The icing on the cake for the Spanish is that their King now seems unbeatable, with his 1947 Arvid Lauren design Bribon 500 winning every classic European and World Championship title since 2017.
The current state of Six Metre sailing in Spain is looking very healthy indeed, with the links between the hidden heritage of the old boats and their connections with the Spanish royal family coming together once again, more than 100 years after they first met. The history is long, and the future is bright.