Dep. Legal A PM 42-2025 - 140 - 2004 - ISSN - ISSN 3015-1309 2488-1686
Mallorca I No. 2133 I 21 - 27 May 2026 I FREE Newspaper
Maritime legacy A PIECE of British maritime history has arrived in Mallorca after the yacht Cariad dropped anchor in the Bay of Palma, attracting attention from sailing enthusiasts and visitors. The impressive vessel, originally built in Southampton in 1896 by shipbuilders Summers & Payne, is considered one of the world’s best-preserved classic racing yachts. Cariad, whose name means ‘beloved’ in Welsh, was commissioned for Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, the fourth Earl of Dunraven. Only two years after launching, the yacht won the Vasco da Gama Cup, a race between Lisbon and Bombay organised to commemorate the Portuguese maritime route to India. Over more than a century, Cariad travelled across the Caribbean, South Africa, the Pacific and the Mediterranean, experiencing periods of success, decline and abandonment before being restored repeatedly. The yacht spent years deteriorating in ports across Asia before entrepreneur Tim Hartnoll launched a major restoration project in 2021, returning the vessel to competitive sailing and restoring its original grandeur. Today, the yacht stands as both a functioning racing vessel and a floating symbol of maritime heritage, craftsmanship and classic British sailing culture. Mallorca has increasin-
Credit: Pasion por el Mar
Palma welcomes iconic 1896 racing yacht
Mallorca expansion Hundreds of jobs and faster service SUPERMARKET giant Mercadona has begun construction of its first warehouse in Mallorca dedicated exclusively to online shopping orders as part of a major expansion of its digital delivery service on the island. The new ‘Colmena’ warehouse, internally known by the company as a ‘Beehive’, is being built in Palma with an investment of €19.5 million and is expected to open in 2027. More than 25 suppliers are participating in the project, which will create around 150 construction jobs during the building phase. The future facility will cover more than 14,000 square metres and employ over 200 workers, including delivery drivers and online order preparation staff. Mercadona already operates online deliveries in several Mallorca municipalities, including Palma, Calvia, Llucmajor, Inca and Santanyi, using products prepared directly from existing supermarkets. The new warehouse is expected to significantly improve delivery speed and efficiency. Mercadona said the new logistics centre forms part of wider efforts to modernise online shopping operations while improving customer service across Mallorca as demand for home deliveries continues to grow steadily on the island.
British maritime history has arrived in Mallorca.
gly become a destination for prestigious nautical events and classic yacht gatherings, with Palma regularly hosting international regattas and maritime exhibitions throughout the year. Cariad’s appearance in the bay has added a touch of historical elegance to the island’s nautical scene, reminding visitors of a different era of ocean racing, long-distance voyages and sailing traditions that continue fascinating maritime
enthusiasts more than a century after the yacht first entered the water. Residents and tourists gathered along Palma’s marina to photograph the yacht as it remained anchored beside
modern superyachts, creating a striking contrast between contemporary vessels and one of the last surviving examples of 19th-century ocean racing craftsmanship in Europe today.
Credit: Shutterstock/rafa jodar
Mercadona has begun construction of its first warehouse.