Three universities and a team made up of three educational centers from Ibiza showcase and test in the Bay of Sant Antoni the prototypes that will take part next year in La Micro Ruta de la Sal.

On Sunday, April 5, the Bay of Sant Antoni de Portmany hosted the first exhibition event of autonomous unmanned sailing vessels that several Spanish universities are developing with the aim of competing in 2027 in La Micro Ruta de la Sal, the first long-distance regatta for this type of craft.

Raig FNB, Vaucan and Saluca in exhibition regatta

Four teams presented their respective prototypes: the VAUCAN from the University of Cantabria, the SALUCA from the University of Cádiz, the RAIG FNB from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and the MAM presented by a team made up of three educational centers from Ibiza. Meanwhile, the NAVY SAILS team from the University of Cartagena was represented by its captain, but the participation of its sailboat was not possible as it is still in the final stage of construction.

SALUCA, autonomous sailboat from the University of Cádiz

The highlight of the event was the exhibition regatta held on Sunday, April 5, in the waters of the Bay of Sant Antoni de Portmany. The main objective of this race was to showcase the prototypes in action and test their systems in the real environment of a racecourse.

Raig FNB, Vaucan and Saluca in exhibition regatta

The RAIG from the Barcelona Faculty of Nautical Studies proved to be the fastest of the prototypes, followed by SALUCA and VAUCAN. This was a logical result considering the sail area of each vessel, but not definitive with regard to the long-distance challenge, where reliability and robustness will undoubtedly be the most essential factors.

Regarding control systems, during the two days of sea trials, the VAUCAN was the only team that attempted purely autonomous navigation without any external intervention, while the RAIG and the SALUCA chose to continue operating their units by remote control at all times, pending further development of their autonomous navigation systems in the coming weeks.

VAUCAN, autonomous sailboat from the University of Cantabria

The university teams arrived in Ibiza on Thursday the 2nd and, until Saturday the 4th, presented their different prototypes in the exhibition area located next to the Village of La Ruta de la Sal at the Club Nàutic Sant Antoni. Living together over these days allowed the university teams to share knowledge and foster collaboration to solve last-minute technical challenges ahead of the planned sea trials.

Luis Gascón, Maritime Captain of Ibiza; Miguel Tur, Councillor for Tourism of Sant Antoni de Portmany; Kike Más, Sports Director of Club Nàutic Sant Antoni; and Andrés Oliva, race director, with some members of the participating teams

At the same time, the coincidence with the celebration of the regatta La Ruta de la Sal Rumbo Ibiza allowed the 800 sailors participating in this edition to closely learn about each of the prototypes and share their offshore sailing experience with the university teams.

Exhibition area of the Micro Ruta de la Sal at Club Nàutic Sant Antoni

The collaboration of Club Nàutic Sant Antoni was essential for the event, as beyond providing the exhibition area, crane services, and racecourse buoying, it also made an inflatable boat available so each participating team could closely follow its sailboat.

Exhibition area of the Micro Ruta de la Sal at Club Nàutic Sant Antoni

With this exhibition event in Ibiza, the countdown begins for the first edition of La Micro Ruta de la Sal, which will take place on March 28, 2027, and in which these unmanned sailboats will have to cover the 54 nautical miles from Ibiza to the mainland carrying a symbolic sack of salt. A major technological challenge, for which the teams now have a year to continue testing and optimizing their prototypes.

PARTICIPATION DIPLOMA CEREMONY

Group photo of students and teachers participating in the Micro Ruta de la Sal exhibition event

Diploma award to team MAM, formed by IES Sant Agustí, CIFP Can Marines and IES Isidor Macabich

Diploma award to team SALUCA from the University of Cádiz

Diploma award to team VAUCAN, University of Cantabria

RAIG-FNB team from the Barcelona Faculty of Nautical Studies, Polytechnic University of Catalonia

The event, promoted by Enregata and the Barcelona Faculty of Nautical Studies, is supported by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, as well as by the Official College of Naval Engineers.