Juan García Lax, the “grandfather” of the Copa del Rey at the age of 90

Juan García Lax, who will turn 91 in December, is the eldest sailor in the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Daily exercise and a healthy diet are the keys to his energy.

No one would guess that he will turn 91 in three months. ‘He has more energy than all of us and an incredible mind. Challenge him with some addition or multiplication,’ says one of the crew members of the Xp 44 SY Trabuco who shares a boat with Juan García Lax, the “grandfather” of the Cup.

“He has more energy than all of us. And an incredible mind. Challenge him with some addition or multiplication,’ says one of the crew members of the Xp44 SY Trabuco who shares a boat with Juan García Lax, the “grandfather” of the Cup.

The most important thing is the way I think. When my wife wants to annoy me, she tells me I’m old. Old for what? I’ve been sailing all my life, I’ve enjoyed it and if I’m still well, I’ll be back next year,

- he says.

But what is the secret of his vitality? ‘There is no secret. You have to do sport every day for at least an hour, eat properly and lots of fruit and vegetables from the Murcian orchards, and, at night, if possible, don’t eat dinner. Or just a yoghurt or a peach,’ he says as a recipe.

He started sailing when he was 10 or 12 years old in dinghies… In Snipes, 420s and 470s.

I gave it up because I didn’t have time for anything else, and when I made some money, I said to myself, 'Let others do the work! I can now devote myself to having fun sailing,

- he adds with a smile

23 years competing

He has participated in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, his favourite regatta, 23 times.

The best thing about sailing is coming here every year. Just walking around this pier and seeing this, it is worth it. And the boat launches are a treasure,

- he says.

In the more than two decades he has been competing, he has experienced the evolution of the Cup first-hand. „It has changed a lot. Twenty-three years ago, they were all ordinary boats, but now it is almost professional.

In our class – Sail Racing ORC A – I think there are only two of us amateurs, the rest are professionals. We have enormous morale knowing that we’re not going to win, but we come back every year,” says Juan, who humorously explains his role on the boat.

I can’t be in charge because, at my age, I am no longer fit for the wheel. Felipe can – referring to the King – but Don Juan Carlos isn’t up to it either

- says the sailor with a smile.

For years, he has run a logistics company from Cologne that manages a huge fleet of vehicles transporting Spanish fruit and vegetables to Germany. He lives there with his wife Renatte, with whom he has a son and a daughter, although he admits that he spends a couple of months in Spain every now and then. In August, the Cup is always on his calendar.