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The History of Port Ginesta
The History of Port Ginesta. Applications for the development of a marina on the site were made to the Catalonian authorities in 1984, with consent granted in 1987; the Port Ginesta history would begin. It was over 35 years ago that two passionate local sailors had the dream to build a marina on the Garraf coast in this location. Jordi Tubella and Elda Balletbo decided to pool their resources together with Lluis Velilla and Jaume Puig. The objective was simple and much needed at the time. They would build a marina where ordinary people of Barcelona and the surrounding areas would be able to keep their boats. Little did they realise what such an undertaking would achieve for local people and now for the broader population of Europe. It’s been a fantastic success and one that has defined the area.
Planning the marina
The plan was bold from the beginning. It was a big marina, a base for over 1,000 boats and yachts. Port Ginesta will differ from the entire sector that had dominated yachting in the Mediterranean for the last hundred years. Port Ginesta was to offer an alternative in both style and cost, and all will be welcome. In 1986 the modern marina, designed by the naval architect Norman Cinnamond, was opened.
Port Ginesta could offer a haven for boats and yachts from 7 to 24 meters in length. As the idea developed, it was decided that the marina would be an excellent haven for yachting and boating and where owners could embark on boat building and restoration projects. Therefore commercial premises were included in the plan for Port Ginesta from the beginning.
A small but vibrant cluster of apartments was added to the plan during its development. In 2018, we had 80 apartments on site that, for many, are second homes, but for the lucky few, they are permanent residences. Port Ginesta has co-existed with many companies, from restaurants, riggers, painters, and electricians to Yacht Brokers over the years. Network Yacht Brokers arrived in 2017; the company has over 20 offices. They hope to bring international marketing to Port Ginesta as this is much needed. Network Yacht Brokers Barcelona moved within the marina to new premises in January 2018, just one year after embarking on the Port Ginesta brokerage project.
Olympic Games
In 1992 the Olympic Games came to Barcelona. This presented a fantastic opportunity for Port Ginesta’s history to be documented. The games led to an improvement of facilities within the marina. The A-Class Catamaran World Championships and many festivals in the port during that time were great successes.
Just as we all thought life was one long party, the oil crisis came along. This plunged Spain into a deep recession; Port Ginesta only survived, thanks to the careful management of resources.
Happier times returned. The port underwent extensive development to keep in step with modern marinas that we now take for granted. A further 404 marina berths were created on the west side of the port. The naval architect Norman Cinnamond designed what has now become the jewel in the crown of Port Ginesta. This design remembered the natural surrounding of Garraf National Park. In June 2006, the extension to the marina was opened and was hailed an immediate success.
2018 painting booth improvements
After the improvement works carried out in Port Ginesta to the yacht paint booth, the marina decided to celebrate Port Ginesta history by publishing this old photo of Fjord III German Frers designed 14.8 meter-long sloop built in 1947 to participate in a regatta between Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. She achieved a decisive victory in that race.
Restoration works of her undertaken in Port Ginesta were completed in 2017. This photo was taken in 1952 when Fjord III was being manoeuvred before boarding a freighter to New York. To participate in Bermuda to Newport race. This is where she became one of the most appreciated and celebrated jewels in the recreational Yachting-associated crown after victory. The Fjord story continues today.
Improvements to Port Ginesta
When writing the Port Ginesta history, plans for the re-development of the old part of the marina had not been released to the public. However, an ongoing restoration and development plan is expected to be released sometime between 2018 to 2019. Due to the economic climate, the number of empty units in the marina remains a challenge to overcome by Marina Management. Ideas such as the construction of other apartments in a section of the marina area at the moment are speculation. When improvements are made public, this document will be updated.
Visitors often stay in Port Ginesta.
Port Ginesta Marina is one of the largest marinas in Spain. It is in the district of Sitges, just south of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. This marina has over 1500 boats and yachts. Port Ginesta tends to be a place people visit when thinking of commissioning boats and yachts, and they aim to use them in the Mediterranean rather than the holiday resort it is.
Many people come to Port Ginesta near the sleepy Catalonian town of Garraf, which sits between Port Ginesta and Sitges. People come, often they stay and never say goodbye, as it’s straightforward to fall in love with this place.
