Andorinha
The beginnings of sports and recreational sailing in the Ria de Aveiro date back to the 1930s. XX, but it was mainly from the 40s onwards that activities were developed, sometimes regular and sometimes sporadic, around parties and pilgrimages, or in spontaneous events to promote recreational sailing, the popularization of which became the political aim of the Estado Novo. The models of boats intended for this new function were almost non-existent, and throughout Europe, and in Portugal in particular, the movement to create new vessels was triggered to provide emerging nautical clubs, under the guidance and sponsorship of the Brigada Naval da Mocidade Portuguesa, with boats suitable for the sport of sailing.
In this context, in Lisbon, the “Lusito” was created, for initiation, the “Vouga” and the Vouga class, for older sailors (1939/1944) and “in Porto” in 1942, with the creation of the Clube de Vela Atlântico creates the National Andorinha Class, as in the context of the first sailing school created in the North of the country, an initiative of Sport Clube do Porto, these vessels are present as school boats and regatta boats in various nautical events. This circumstance arises from the relations between the Sport Club do Porto and the Real Clube Náutico da Coruña, which had adopted this vessel as the ideal boat for its activities to promote recreational boating (1934).
Of French origin, designed by François Camatte in Cannes in 1932, the vessel was slightly altered, they say, to better resist the turbulent waters of the Atlantic.
The proximity to Ovar and Ovar's social and commercial relationships with the city of Porto promoted the presence of these vessels in the Ria de Ovar, or Ovar channel, North branch of the Ria de Aveiro, where some of these Porto families summered, from Areínho to Torreira.
Visit Ovar