There are only a few mestres dāaixa (shipās carpenters) left in the Pitiusas ā you could almost count them on the fingers of one hand. Unluckily for future generations, these craftsmen skilled in building and repairing llaĆ¼ts and other small boats seem to be a dying breed though the Island Council has recently set up training facilities in Santa EulĆ ria to mitigate the attrition. Ibizaās shipās carpenters have customarily learned their trade from their forefathers, a spontaneous process that has also taught them the wisdom of the seafarer, the tactile skills of the woodworker and the shrewdness of the peasant. As Alfredo Planells says from his own experience: āAll country people used to know how to fishā.
Bassetes, as he is known to his friends, is the owner of the Ana, a āboteā with half a centuryās history behind it and also of the EspadĆ³n (āWarhorseā) a āllaĆ¼tā which is almost a century old. One day, ownership of these two boats will pass to his nephews as family tradition dictates. Alfredo has, of course, always made his living as a fisherman. Nowadays he just sails for pleasure and fishing is only a hobby: āI catch vaques, raons, roges, serrans and calamares depending on the season. But itās getting less and less all the time because of over-fishing. Everythingās going downhill,ā bemoans the pensioner as he carries out some repairs to the deck of the Ana. He lives in Puig dāen Valls which used to be a quiet village but now has a rapidly expanding population and is starting to look rather more suburban.
There are around two hundred ābotesā and āllaĆ¼tesā plying the waters around Ibiza. Most of them are based in Sant Antoni, Santa EulĆ ria and the Islandās capital Eivissa (only a handful of romantics are still attracted by the idea of working at sea). The first of these two traditional designs (the āboteā) has a popa de balandre (rounded stern) whereas the llaĆ¼t that is so typical of the Western Mediterranean is rigged with a lateen sail and comes in various shapes but is generally double-ended, i.e. has rounded bows as well as stern (roda and codast).
Bassetes normally uses four hooks baited with gambas, gerret, sorell and worms, just enough to keep him occupied: āI only fish for as long as I need to and as soon as my catch is big enough I go home. Iām not interested in competing with others and Iām not trying to set any records.ā
Although these two types of boat have similar characteristics and could even be used as leisure craft, Alfredo is able to point to some striking differences. For example, the design of the llaĆ¼t makes it easier to steer and handle than the bote. Perfect for regatta conditions. Both boats are very sturdy and reach average speeds of between six and eight knots given a decent tail wind. They are simple and cheap to operate. And another interesting detail about performance: the Anaās engine can achieve an output of 5hp on a fuel consumption of 3 litres per hour. The classic lines of the Ana are a joy to behold. This floating beauty measures just six metres in length.
With the help of his friend from neighbouring JesĆŗs, Joan āLlucā Costa , he has started to repair damage accumulated over the years by this wonderfully decorated wooden boat, the perfect vessel in which to while away the time on a fishing trip. āThis will take three or four daysā work,ā he assures us as he gently caresses the Anaās keel. āPlastic, modern and functionalā may be all the fashion down at the yacht club but āpinewood, adaptable and robustā simply has more style. Real seafarers prefer to remain true to tradition.