The Ibiza Yacht Club has appointed a new board of directors with Damian Verdera Walker at the helm, in a change that comes at a momentous time for the organization. The candidacy, the only one presented, was made official on February 15th and was endorsed by 98 members.
Verdera will be accompanied byPedro Matutes Barceló as vice-president, Bartolomé Planells Gutiérrez as treasurer, Adrián Bedoya Mey as secretary, David Tur Álvarez as commodore and member of the sports section, and Clara Costa Tur as member.
This change of leadership comes just a few days before the Yacht Club celebrates its centenary, on February 27th, in a context marked by uncertainty after losing the concession of its facilities in the port of Ibiza in 2024. The new board will have as its main challenge to stabilize the economic situation of the entity and find a definitive headquarters to ensure the continuity of its sports and social activities.
A club with no clubhouse and tight accounts
Since the club had to leave its historic facilities in May 2024, it has been operating without a fixed headquarters and without the income generated by transient moorings, one of its main sources of funding. This situation has led to a deficit of 146,102 euros in 2024, although the budget presented for 2025 foresees a financial balance thanks to the arrival of new sponsors and the support of the Consell de Ibiza and the Ibiza Town Hall.
During the last members’ meeting, held in December in Can Ventosa, the continuity of the organization was confirmed despite the economic difficulties and the electoral process that now culminates with the election of Verdera was announced. The former president, Juan Marí, decided not to run for re-election after being involved in the ‘ports case’, for which he faces a request for three years in prison for an alleged crime of continued prevarication.
Challenges for the new board of directors
The most immediate challenge for Verdera and his team will be to find a definitive location for the club, preferably in the port area and with access to the sea. So far, attempts to secure a new location have been unsuccessful, affecting both its operations and its ability to attract new members and events.
In addition, the new board will have to work on strengthening the club’s economic stability in a scenario in which it no longer has the income it used to receive from its ties. Attracting new sources of funding, consolidating agreements with institutions and seeking sponsors will be key to guaranteeing the club’s future.
A centennial with a taste of challenge
The Club Náutico de Ibiza, founded in 1925, has been for almost a century a reference in the promotion of water sports on the island. Now, with a new board and in the midst of one of its most important crises, it faces its centenary with the responsibility of defining its future and consolidating its role within the Ibizan sports scene.
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Josep Maria Costa is spared from sitting in the dock for the rigging of the Ibiza Yacht Club tender.
