Willy Alonso, captain of the Castrosua: “At the end of a regatta, at the awards ceremony, the then H.R.H. Prince Felipe told us: now I get it, the buses from Madrid!”
1.- How long has the boat you captain been called Castrosua? How did the idea of naming the vessel after the bus body manufacturer come about?
The first time was in 2003, precisely to compete in the legendary “Castrosua Solo and A2 Regatta”. I had participated in previous editions as “TVG” and the unforgettable José Manuel Castro, then CEO of the company and a passionate sailor, proposed it to me and honestly… who could say no! I accepted with pleasure and practically from then until today, the team and the company have been a benchmark in the nautical world.
2.- Could you give us a summary of the most outstanding awards the “Castrosua” has won in various regattas? And which one are you most proud of?
Well, the truth is there are many and it’s not easy to choose, perhaps the 5 editions of the Solo Regatta, due to its connotations and toughness. There are other very important ones like 7 Condes de Gondomar, 5 editions of the legendary Rías Baixas, 4 Príncipes de Asturias, 2 Rías Altas, 5 President of the Xunta Trophies, 5 years as Spanish ORC Cruiser Champion and several other Spanish Cups (both in 2015 for example). In short, many good memories, and more to come!
Even so, I am very proud of each and every one of the competitions in which we have carried the company’s name, and I remember the times we didn’t win almost more, as you learn from everything.
3.- In your opinion, is sailing gaining more followers, or is it a sport for minorities?
Sailing is not just competition; it’s one of those activities that make you feel nature in a very special way. All children who come near a sailboat learn to value and respect it; it’s a pure ecology school. When they find waste in the sea, they realize how important it is that no bag, paper, or can ends up in the water. You should have seen a 6-year-old with an optimist (a small sailboat) scolding a tourist who threw his sandwich wrappers into the sea!
There are thousands of people, children and adults, passionate about sailing, and now there are more and more schools, and it’s easier to go to a club to sail… the competition comes later and it hooks you.
4.- Does Galicia have ideal conditions for practicing sailing? And for competition?
I can say that I have sailed in many places around the world, and it’s hard to find a place like this. The estuaries are unique, like the fjords but with a different climate. We have the upper ones, with a very tough and more open sea, which is very complicated in winter but is navigable all year round. And from Finisterre southwards, everything is milder. For nautical tourism, they are unique from Ribadeo to La Guardia with a thousand coves, ports, and anchorages. As for competition, to use a football analogy, it’s like playing at the Maracanã.
5.- Tell us an anecdote you’d like to highlight that happened during the time you’ve been in command of the “Castrosua”…
We were racing in Bayona for the 25th anniversary of the Prince of Asturias Trophy, and we won the regatta. The then H.R.H. Prince Felipe attended the awards ceremony. As we are fortunate enough to share this hobby, he has visited us since his time at the Naval School in Marín. After presenting us with the trophy, always friendly and approachable, he said: “now I get it, the buses from Madrid! I knew it sounded familiar and I finally figured it out!”
