In a historic day for the Moraira Yacht Club, coinciding with the celebration of its 50th anniversary, two clear winners emerged from the 12th Gourmet Race. In the professional category, the Chan Chan boat, with Matias Bulman and chef Manuel Piñeiro, was declared the overall winner, while in the amateur category, Voraz, with Antonio Lleó and Jorge Casanova, took first place.
The day began with energy from the early hours of the morning at the port, where crews, guests, and fans gathered on the dock next to the gas station to witness the highly anticipated Dock Out Show, which began at 9:15 a.m. The staggered departure of the boats, accompanied by the music of DJ Toño, turned the start of the regatta into a truly festive spectacle, amid applause and shouts of encouragement that filled the port.
For approximately two hours, the boats sailed with a dual challenge: nautical skill and culinary creativity, on a day where bluefin tuna was the undisputed star. Mid-morning, the teams returned to the Village to begin plating, filling the venue with aromas, colors, and activity in front of journalists, onlookers, and guests.
The event included highlights such as the ShowCooking and tasting by chef Nazario Cano (Ritual de Terra), a tribute to Mediterranean cuisine that concluded with a standing ovation from the audience. Also noteworthy was the impressive live bluefin tuna ronqueado, which allowed attendees to learn in detail about the different parts of the fish and their culinary uses.
Among the day's activities, the raffle for Mercedes by Visauto gifts, presented by Pepe Rodríguez, Masterchef judge and chef of El Bohío Restaurant, sparked laughter and impromptu celebrations among the participants.
The Closing Ceremony, held at 14:00 p.m., brought together the organization, participants, the jury, sponsors, and guests. The event included a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Moraira Yacht Club, tributes to the NGOs that participated in the DANA in Valencia—World Central Kitchen, presented by Pepa Muñoz, and Alicante Gastronómica Solidaria, presented by Carlos Bañó and Jesús Navarro—as well as a tribute to the club's longest-serving founder, Vicente Ferrer.
The culminating moment was the awards ceremony of the XII Gourmet Race, which handed out seven prizes: the Festive Spirit went to Lince II, the best presentation to Carmen del Mar, and the prizes for the best dishes, from least to greatest, went to Leon, Bucaners, Whale JL and the first prizes shared between Voraz (amateur) and Chan Chan (professional).
The event was attended by more than 450 people, including crews, guests, judges, and the public, and was also attended by officials such as the club's president, Juan Vicente Oller; the mayor of Teulada-Moraira, Raul Llobell; the Councilor for Tourism, Veronica Martinez; the regional secretary of tourism, Jose Manuel Camarero; and the presidents of the Alicante Chamber of Commerce and Alicante Gastronomica, Carlos Bañó and Jesús Navarro, who actively participated in the presentation of products and awards.
The day concluded with a friendly lunch at the club restaurant and the traditional Tardeo Gourmet Race in the Village, again hosted by DJ Toño, bringing to a close an edition that once again demonstrated why this event is unique in the Mediterranean.
