Albaola Elkartea

Home What is Albaola History

Undoubtedly, the relationship with the sea has shaped the idiosyncrasy of the Basques; however, the cultural and technical knowledge of the sea that Basques have developed for centuries has often been neglected, forgotten or denied.

Thus, some of us are finding a way to recover that remarkable part of Basque history.

The first enterprise of Albaola was performed in Maine (U.S.A.) in 1997, with the construction of the replica of a nineteenth-century Basque fishing ‘trainera’, which was called Ameriketatik (‘From the Americas’). The building of the boat was financed by Basque Clubs from the whole American continent, and offered by the Basque emigrants as a gift to their homeland.

Once in the Basque Country, Ameriketatik set off on a journey along the Basque coast; the crewmembers changed in every port so, in the course of one month, more than three hundred people had a chance to sail and row as in the old times. The voyage attracted wide media and social interest, and proved very useful in gathering together people interested in navigation, adventure and maritime heritage.

The die was cast. From the maintenance and care of the boat, the society evolved to take on more complex tasks.