Palma Boat Show
Royal seal of approval for showpiece event
Crown Prince Felipe became the first member of the Spanish royal family in 30 years to attend the Palma International Boat Show, as the event made a resoundingly successful comeback to the Balearics. Around 37,000 visitors attended the 30th anniversary edition of the show, prompting director Chema Sans to note, “This was a completely different show from 2011. Most notably, it has grown a lot. The number of exhibitors was up 25 per cent and the sea-based exhibition area up 76 per cent, largely due to the crucial addition of a Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show – a venture that makes a good deal of sense for the Balearics… In total 47 superyachts over 24 metres
lined the quayside of Moll Vell marina and, based on this year’s runaway success, I envisage this expanding to 65 or more for 2014.” With the public and private sectors working together, the 2013 show was remodelled into a “nautical week”, with TapaMar gastronomy, the Gaastra PalmaVela regatta and the Maremostra Ocean Film Festival running alongside the more traditional boats, accessories and services. The intention was to promote the Balearic islands, in particular Palma, and confirm their strategic importance in tourism and yachting. www.boatshowpalma.com Arboretum Marbella
Creating a people’s forest
Concordia Gala
Great Gatsby glamour for a good cause Marbella Club Hotel’s Villa del Mar will be transformed into a 1920s “Great Gatsby” setting on 20 July for this year’s Concordia Gala. Supported by Tiffany & Co., the 2013 event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, music, dancing and a raffle with “stunning prizes”. Tickets for the gala cost €300 and all profits go to Concordia. Held for the past 17 years, the annual event is the main source of funds for the Concordia charity to run its day centre, helpline and outreach program. This important work is designed to support AIDS sufferers and their families and educate the general public to slow the spread of the disease. The charity is also looking for supporters to become members and donate a regular fee of €80 per year, although one-off donations are also welcome. www.concordiamarbella.com
Now celebrating its second anniversary, Arboretum Marbella is an environmental charity set up with the aim of creating a public park of native plants and trees as a site for conservation and education, and an attractive green space for people to enjoy. In May 2011 the town hall gave the project a 10-hectare stretch of wasteland behind Marbella’s bus station and, after tonnes of rubbish was cleared from the site, rocks removed and the soil turned and prepared for planting, volunteers, supporters, businesses and schools joined forces to plant more than 17,000 trees, plants and shrubs and create an organic vegetable garden. In addition to supporting the project as a volunteer or supporter, or making a monthly donation or giving a tree, people can sign up for an intensive 10-day Permaculture Design Course, an internationally recognised qualification, from 18 to 27 October (only 30 places are available). www.arboretum HOMEANDLIFESTYLE.ES
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