Torre del Mar’s beloved rowing tribute returns this September to honour a local legend

Traditional wooden boats will glide across the beautiful waters of Torre del Mar this Saturday, September 12 as families, rowing fans and locals gather to watch one of the areas most cherished maritime traditions come alive once again.

What is happening and when

Playa del Varadero, right beside the Club de Remo Faro headquarters, will host the sixteenth Memorial Miguel Cano, a traditional rowing regatta known locally as the Regata de Chalanas on Saturday, September 12, forming the third stage of the second Provincial Chalana League, a season-long competition run by the council. Racing gets under way at 5pm and continues throughout the afternoon, with several heats bringing together clubs and athletes from across the province. With backing from Velez-Malaga Town Hall’s Torre del Mar deputy mayor’s office and its sports department.

A tribute born from the sea

Few sporting fixtures carry as much local meaning as this one. Launched in 2008 by Club de Remo Faro, the memorial forms part of a wider effort to rescue, preserve and promote the “chalana”, a traditional rowing boat deeply woven into the areas maritime heritage.

Deputy mayor Jesus Perez Atencia described the race as one of the province’s longest-running sporting traditions and, above all, a lasting homage to everyone who has kept the town’s bond with the sea and with sport alive. He also sent a warm thought to Miguel Cano’s family, recalling how the rower took part in the earliest chalana contests once held during local festivals near the shoreline.

Clubs from Malaga and Portugal prepared and ready to compete

Saturday’s line-up will bring some of Malaga’s finest fixed-bench rowing clubs to Torre del Mar, joined by a guest team from Portugal, giving spectators a chance to enjoy racing again following an intense summer of “jabega” contests, a related style of traditional beach rowing popular along this stretch of coast. Seven age and gender categories will battle it out on the water, mixed under-12s, female and male cadets, female and male juniors, and female and male senior crews.

Everyone is warmly invited to head down to Playa del Varadero from 5pm to soak up a day all about rowing history.