Hippocampus Nº 44

Miguel Magalhães
President of Clube Naval de Cascais 2001-2008
Vice-Commodore of Clube Naval de Cascais since 2020
What do you consider to have been
1 the most outstanding moments of
these first 85 years of life of the CNC?
With such a rich history, the CNC has
many moments/facts it can be proud of.
As it is difficult to say which were the
most outstanding, since each era has
produced its own, I will refer to those
that I consider most relevant in the recent
past, without wishing to classify them in
order of importance, but to mention them
chronologically.
Cascais Marina: although not a Club
project, it was first conceived by people
connected to the Club, and also promoted
in close connection. I mention this moment
that is external to the Club, because it gave
Cascais, and particularly the Club members,
the possibility of access to the sea on
a permanent basis, all year round, due to
the protection it gave to the bay; as well as
allowing us to project ourselves as a truly
international club, with the improvements
that, from then on, we also made to our
facilities.
Application to host the 32nd America’s Cup:
the application of Lisbon/Cascais to host
the America’s Cup, which was promoted
by the CNC, was a high moment in our
history, as it showed the world not only
our organizational capabilities, but also
the extraordinary regatta site and infrastructure
we have.
New facilities: in 2006, and after a long
period of more than seven years, which
involved designing, licensing, financing
and building, the new facilities of the CNC
were finally inaugurated, with the presence
of the Honorary President of ISAF, HM
King Constantine of Greece, which allowed
us to endow the Club with a modern and
functional infrastructure, and to be ready
for the great event that was to come.
ISAF 2007: the world championships
of Olympic classes, ISAF 2007, were,
without doubt, the greatest exponent of
the organisation of a sailing event held
by the Club, and one of the greatest
sporting events ever held in the country.
This event concentrated the best of world
sailing in Portugal for 15 days, being the
most important sailing event of the year,
where 75% of the athletes qualified for the
Beijing Olympic Games. More than 1300
athletes were present, and the entire town
of Cascais was involved, with the sea front
fully used, from the Marina to Conceição
Beach, with different uses.
ISAF Centenary: as a corollary to the great
achievement, and extraordinary success,
that was the world championship of the
Olympic classes, the ISAF chose Cascais,
among 35 candidates, for the commemorations
of its centenary, with representatives of
the great majority of the sailing federations
from all over the world, as well as other high
dignitaries of the sport, having come to
Portugal for the commemorations that took
place at the beginning of September 2007.
What are your best memories from
2 your term as President of the CNC?
All the moments I have experienced as a
representative of the Club in the organisations
mentioned above, for seeing how much
we have managed to project our image and
identity, nationally and worldwide.
What sporting or social event at the
3 CNC has made the biggest impression
on you and why?
Without a shadow of a doubt, it was ISAF
2007, because nothing comparable had ever
been done in Portugal, and the CNC proved
that, when we want and are committed, we
not only have the capacity to accomplish,
but we also deliver excellence.
How do you see the future of the
4 CNC, namely in the medium/long
term?
The future of the CNC is certainly promising,
as we have a high quality and
dynamic associative mass, which remains
interested in the future of the Club, which
is the greatest guarantee that there will be
continuity of the legacy left by all those
who preceded us.
What news story about the CNC
5 would you like to see in the media
tomorrow?
That our athletes bring us Olympic medals.
Clube Naval de CASCAIS 29