The Consell de Mallorca has decided to acquire the fishing boat Rafael for 220,000 euros, from the 2024 treasury surpluses. This iconic vessel, built in 1915 by the Llompart shipyards in Palma, will be incorporated into the island’s maritime heritage, ensuring its preservation and highlighting its cultural and historical significance.
Photo: Consell de Mallorca.
The fishing boat Rafael, with a length of 12.9 metres and capacity for 25 passengers, is one of the last examples of the traditional Mallorcan “barca de bou” boats, used for sail fishing before the advent of motors. According to Pedro Bestard, second vice president and conseller of Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports, the Rafael has “high cultural and heritage value, as it is one of the last Mallorcan ‘barcas de bou’ designed for sail fishing in pairs, dragging the fishing gear, at a time when motors were not yet in use”.
The addition of this boat to the island’s heritage will complement the vessel Balear, built in 1924, which already carries out educational activities about the island’s maritime heritage, especially aimed at schoolchildren. This synergy between the two vessels will offer a more complete view of Mallorca’s nautical history, fostering a connection between new generations and their traditions.
With the acquisition of the fishing boat Rafael, the Consell de Mallorca reaffirms its commitment to preserving the island’s maritime history, ensuring that future generations will be able to learn about and appreciate the traditions and crafts that were essential to life on the island. In this way, Mallorca continues to establish itself as a reference in the conservation of its cultural heritage.
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