A rowing club in Málaga restores and returns a century-old fishing boat to the sea

This is the story of how a century-old fishing boat was brought back to life. But above all, it is the story of a group of friends passionate about the sea, a round-trip gift between its previous owner and the current ones, and a sports club that has become a large family. Yesterday, they marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another...

The adventure began at the end of 2020 at the Nereo shipyard in Pedregalejo, when its manager, Alfonso Sánchez Guitard, proposed to a group of friends that they make use of an old boat to improve its conservation. Within just two weeks, around 15 people were making two to three outings a week, explains the main promoter of this project, Javier Lumbreras.

It was then that they met Fernando Dols, owner of the boat, whom he considers his "second daughter." According to the documentation, the origin of this traditional boat dates back officially to 1932, although everyone agrees that its construction would likely be even earlier, which certainly places it as a centennial piece of Malaga's maritime heritage.

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The first challenge: rowing to Nerja

Residing in Nerja and of advanced age, circumstances did not allow Fernando to travel to the capital to visit his boat. Thus, the group set their first challenge in September 2021: to row from Pedregalejo to the town of Axarquia, a journey of 47 kilometers... just to show it to its owner.

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Shortly after that feat, the group asked the owner to transfer the boat to them so they could restore it and use it more comfortably. He agreed on one condition: that they create a rowing sports club around it. Thus was born Jabegotes de la Bahía, presided over by Javier Lumbreras.

The Jabegotes de la Bahía Rowing Club completes the restoration of the historic boat and looks towards the Vogalonga in Venice

In August 2023, the group received the boat, transferred it to Pedregalejo beach, and began to slowly work on its restoration. But soon serious structural problems appeared. The group then contacted Rafael Serrano Estudillo, a retired shipyard carpenter, who offered to help them.

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Improvised Shipyard

Every advance uncovered more and more deteriorated pieces that needed to be replaced. Thus, at the initiative of his wife, Coca Rubio, the situation ended up bringing the boat to an "improvised shipyard" set up in their home's garden. The workshop was named in honor of María Isabel Gálvez, her mother (now deceased), "who always encouraged me to continue in this endeavor," Javier recalls.

The club then bought second-hand professional carpentry machinery and materials. Ultimately, all the work ended up costing about 12,000 euros. Under the supervision of the expert carpenter and thanks to voluntary work, the recovery gradually progressed, lasting two years, from September 2023 to July 2025. For this, they had the sponsorship of several Malaga companies: Congelados Deca, Angioven, Superskunk, Puertas Segurestil, Pebar Distribuciones, and Actúa Infraestructuras, among others.

As a result, the current boat retains just 20% of the original structure, to the point that "it would have been easier to build a new one." Finally, Toni Albaladejo was the artist responsible for painting the fishing boat, with a design of intertwined carnations.

Thus, last summer the restored boat returned to the sands of Pedregalejo beach, which has been its home for the last century. Since then, the club has continued to gain members and today it has 37 members, who continue to make two to three outings a week, weather permitting, to train and enjoy the bay. Their philosophy is not to compete, but to live the sea and explore new routes.

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Rowing to Venice

Among their major goals stands a collective dream: to participate in 2027 in the Vogalonga in Venice, the international meeting of traditional rowing boats. Until then, they also plan to travel the Camino de Santiago by sea; tour various navigable reservoirs in Spain; attend meetings of traditional boats throughout Spain; descend the Guadalquivir and, as a more immediate challenge, ascend the Guadalhorce to recall the voyages of the Phoenicians in search of new territories when they reached these coasts.

This story has been captured in a book and a public presentation that took place yesterday at the Baños del Carmen spa, closing one chapter to open another. With their fishing boat now ready to sail, the club has embraced a spirit of belonging and fraternity. "We train a lot but enjoy even more. We are very fortunate: seeing the sunrise from the sea, alone in the Bay, is a unique spectacle." For the Jabegotes, going out to row is synonymous with teamwork, total disconnection, and new friendships: a way of life linked to the sea and the deepest roots of Malaga's identity.