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‘Pirate yacht’ warning BY ROYAL (NON) APPOINTMENT
THE Balearic Islands nautical sector is accusing the Spanish government of legalising the use of private leisure boats for rentals.
Under a Royal Decree passed by the central executive in March, as of July 2024 private leisure vessels can be rented out for up to three months a year.
The ruling published in the Official State Bulletin authorises “a temporary change from private to commercial use for a period no longer than three months a year”.
According to the
Balearic Nautical Business Association, the move effectively legalises what are known as ‘pirate yachts’, as these practices are reportedly usually paid for cash in hand without tax and without the safety requirements that apply to the official ship charter trade.
There are currently an estimated 12,000 private boats registered in the Balearic Islands, of which 1,500 could be rented out for day trips during the high season under the new law.
PALMA received a surprise double royal visit this week when King Felipe VI dropped in to spend some quality time with his mother Doña Sofía, who was already in Mallorca with her sister.
The monarch also followed in the footsteps of Hollywood star Morgan Freeman and chose to dine at trendy Italian restaurant Sandro with a group of friends.
Although at the time of going to press the exact plans of the Royal Family had not yet transcended, it appeared that they planned to spend their Easter break on the island coinciding with Princess Leonor’s school holidays from the Atlantic College in Wales.
Doña Sofía arrived on the island last week and on Monday attended the traditional Holy Week charity concert at the cathedral.
In an ironic twist of fate, the king’s former brotherinlaw Iñaki Urdangarín the disgraced exhusband of Felipe’s sister Cristina who spent time in prison over the Noos cor ruption scandal and who is currently embroiled in a messy divorce with the Infanta coincidentally also appeared in Mallorca this week, choosing to spend a few days’ holiday with his current partner at a hotel very near to the Marivent royal palace.
