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The fires ravaging the Madrid region have also had an impact on boating activities. On Friday, July 24, 2026, the flames reached the Real Club Náutico de Madrid, located on the shores of the Embalse de San Juan. While no injuries were reported, the damage to property was particularly severe, with the destruction of a large portion of the club?s Soling fleet and several buildings.
A Soling fleet almost entirely destroyed
According to information provided by the International Soling Class Association, fourteen of the sixteen boats in the Madrid fleet were destroyed by fire while they were in storage on land awaiting the resumption of the sailing season. Several other sailboats, as well as part of the club?s facilities, were also damaged, while the boats that remained afloat escaped the fire.
The Real Club Náutico de Madrid is one of Spain's leading centers for inland sailing. Its fleet of Soling boats, among the largest in Europe, regularly hosts national and international regattas. The loss of these boats jeopardizes the organization of competitions scheduled for the coming months.
A reconstruction that will take time
In an interview with the Spanish daily ABC, club president Tobi Carrasco emphasized that the fact that no one was injured remains the main source of relief. He believes, however, that the loss of the boats represents the greatest setback for the club?s sporting activities, even more so than the damage sustained by the buildings. In particular, the hangar housing the dinghies was almost completely destroyed, while the main building, the locker rooms, and the sailing school facilities were saved thanks to the emergency responders? efforts.
Renewing the fleet is expected to be a complex process. Solings are no longer mass-produced, and the used market remains limited. The club will have to search for available boats in several European countries before it can regain its ability to organize international regattas.
A long-running historical series
Designed by American architect Jan Herman Linge, the Soling is an 8.20-meter keelboat designed in the late 1960s. An Olympic class from 1972 to 2000, it continues to enjoy a busy international racing calendar thanks to several particularly active fleets in Europe and North America.
For the international sailing community, the loss of a large portion of Madrid?s fleet represents a significant setback. In a message of support, the International Soling Class Association reaffirmed its commitment to Spanish sailors and its intention to assist in rebuilding this fleet, which has contributed for many years to the series? prominence on the international circuit.
