Interview: Club de Mar President on the major remodelling of the port facility
Martin Hager
· 07.10.2023
Mallorca is undoubtedly one of the most important superyacht hubs in the western Mediterranean. The infrastructure for large formats is unrivalled, both in terms of cultural and culinary offerings for owners, charter guests and crews, as well as the supply of ships by shipyards and a large number of first-class suppliers and ports.
One marina that has become an integral part of the vibrant Balearic superyacht scene over the last 50 years is the Club de Mar-Mallorca (CdM) in the west of Palma's historic old town. The docks are home to by far the largest yachts moored in the region. Such a density of large yachts can otherwise only be found in Port Hercule at the end of September during the Monaco Yacht Show.
In the spring of this year, the CdM once again attracted attention with floating superlatives, as two of the largest sailing yachts in the world were moored right next to each other on the quay wall; the 106 metre long dyna-rigged three-master "Black Pearl" of the Russian oligarch Oleg Burlakov, who died of a coronavirus infection in 2021, and the 125-metre "Koru" together with the 75-metre supply vessel "Abeona".
Club de Mar gets a refit
The prestigious club with its 543 berths is currently undergoing a massive refit in line with the major development of Palma's Paseo Maritimo. With an investment volume of around 70 million euros, this is the largest private refurbishment of a Spanish harbour facility ever. As BOOTE EXCLUSIV was able to experience during the on-site visit, the work is in full swing and should be completed by summer 2024.
The new quay facilities should be able to accommodate 70 yachts with lengths of more than 40 metres by the end of the year, with four berths reserved for gigantic yachts with lengths of 136 to 170 metres.
The 51-year-old clubhouse also had to make way for a club that is fully integrated into Palma's harbour promenade. The new buildings were designed with ecological aspects in mind and have a surprisingly unusual layout. A walkway runs through the centre of the CdM site, connecting the Paseo Maritimo with the cruise terminal. While the lower two floors, including boutiques, high-calibre restaurants and attractive promenades, are open to everyone, the third floor, including the pool terrace and spectacular views, is exclusively available to club members.
The club's corporate identity was also overhauled as part of the reorganisation. The traditional club logo with bat and yellow and red stripes had to make way for a monochrome, contemporary logo.
BOOTE EXCLUSIV spoke to Club de Mar President José Luis Arrom about the past, present and future of the renowned superyacht facility.
How did the CdM become one of the world's leading yacht clubs and marinas for super and gigayachts?
Our club was created as a centre for water sports enthusiasts, where sailing was intensively practised and promoted. This initiative began in 1969, and over time the opportunity arose to expand the facilities with a new harbour concession specifically for large yachts. This foresighted vision proved to be spot on, as in the early 1970s the majority of yachts were between 25 and 50 metres in length. The bold attempt to establish a harbour where larger formats could also moor was a hit. We were the first marina in the Balearic Islands to be able to accommodate yachts of this - then unbelievable - size. The excellent location in the bay of Palma and in the immediate vicinity of the old town also ensured the satisfaction of our guests and members.
How many club members do you have and how many of them have the CdM as their home port?
We currently have 325 members, 184 of whom use our facilities as their home port.
How do you become a member?
An application is submitted to the Board of Directors, which must be approved by two members. However, we are currently not accepting any new members until the construction work has been completed. Interested parties can contact us again from next summer.
After the marina's concession was extended by 24 years in 2019, the CdM embarked on an ambitious remodelling project three years ago that will not only change the look of the famous Paseo Maritimo in Palma de Mallorca, but also bring with it a completely new and modern clubhouse and new docks. How difficult was it to convince the club members to take such a big step?
To secure the extension of the concession, there was only one option: to be recognised by both the Balearic Islands and the State Port Authority, which declared the project to be of general and strategic interest to the city. This qualification and other requirements such as the creation of an attractive project for the city of Palma de Mallorca, the promise of a significant investment, compliance with sustainability standards, guarantee of profitability and accessibility to the public finally paved the way for this extension. Convincing the members proved to be easy, as the concession and thus the members' preferential rights would expire in October 2019. The members' meeting decided to continue the project and support it.
How far has the construction work progressed and what will the new area around the clubhouse look like?
Currently, 85 per cent of the new harbour complex is complete and work will be finished by the end of the year. The four club buildings, whose outdoor areas will be designed to be particularly green and natural, are scheduled for completion in summer 2024. In order to make the buildings more sustainable and to be able to use smaller air conditioning systems, the roofs and walls will also be greened with grass.
Which architectural firm designed the new club and how will the new clubhouse be equipped?
The architecture firm estudio_entresitio was responsible for the design and project management. The team, based in Madrid and New York, is led by architects María Hurtado de Mendoza and César Jiménez de Tejada Benavides, who presented a design that is characterised by its integration into the Paseo Maritimo and yet functions as nautical infrastructure. The integration is achieved through ramps that cross the concession area between the two main buildings, creating a link between the city and the harbour. They also connect the cruise terminal with the promenade. The building is also designed to be versatile and sustainable. It will be constructed predominantly of black pigmented concrete, with flat roofs that will be lush with vegetation.
How high is the investment for the conversion and expansion?
The investment amounts to around 70 million euros. However, the unfortunate global events of recent years have also had a significant impact on the project. As a result, we had to reorganise ourselves several times and also renegotiate the prices with the construction companies.
How many berths does the CdM have?
We have a total of 543 berths, 66 percent of which are shorter than 20 metres, 21 percent accommodate yachts between 20 and 40 metres in length, and the remaining berths are suitable for vessels up to 170 metres in length. What is special is that we can accommodate up to 70 yachts over 40 metres in length.
Will you have berths for yachts from 24 metres in length for shorter stays of one day to one week?
Certainly. Visitors are always welcome, and we can accommodate all ships travelling through, regardless of their size and length of stay.
The shortage of berths is a major problem in the western Mediterranean. Are there still long-term berths at CdM?
For yachts up to 15 metres, there are occasionally long-term berths on offer, but more in winter. For sizes between 20 and 50 metres, the situation is rather poor. When our construction work is completed next summer, we will have space again, especially for yachts up to 18 metres. The lack of berths is indeed obvious. Even 1000 additional berths in the Mediterranean would not be enough. After the renewal of the concession, we put a moratorium on purchasing berths until May 2025 in order to avoid short-term speculation with berths.
How important is the superyacht segment for the club and for you personally? And what challenges do you face with large sailing yachts like "Koru" or "Black Pearl"?
The recent visits of well-known yachts are proof of our good reputation. It is clear that such vessels require not only a berth, but also the utmost attention and careful security measures. Our club ensures comprehensive access control and remains flexible with changes to reservations and stays to meet the ever-changing needs of owners and guests on board. We offer a wide range of services, which our staff perform with the utmost professionalism. It is equally important that the crews of the yachts are satisfied when the owner is not on board. This is where we benefit from our close proximity to the centre of Palma de Mallorca. The city offers a pleasant lifestyle and access to international schools, which encourages many crew members to invest in property in Mallorca so that their families can join them. Working with gigayachts is demanding on both a personal and professional level, but when our clients are happy, I am happy.
When is the grand opening party of the new CdM clubhouse?
There is no exact date yet, but the events are scheduled to start next year and end in 2025. We don't want to organise a one-off opening party, but various social and sporting events that all revolve around the inauguration of Club de Mar-Mallorca.
