Boat International – August 2019

VOYAGE

082019

SOTOGRANDE

Andalucía,Spain

Credentials:TheSotograndecommunitywascreatedin 1962 byFilipino

industrialistColJosephMcMickinganditsgatedvillassoonhosted

summersoiréespackedwiththeMedelite(thinkMustiqueoverlooking

theRockofGibraltar).PolofollowedthankstoMcMicking’snephew,

EnriqueZobel,whocreatedtheBeachgroundin1965.Fastforward 50

yearsandtherearenow 16 fieldsinthissun-drenchedcornerof

Andalucía.Thehigh-goalactioncentresonthemanicuredlawnsofthe

SantaMaríaPoloClub,dubbedtheWimbledonofpologrounds.Situated

onthebanksoftheGuadiaroestuary,itsfieldsaredividedbypalmtrees

andwhitecanvasparasolstoprotectvisitorsfromtheSpanishsun.

Whattowatch:TheInternationalPoloTournament(partoftheGrand

Slam),isheldannuallyatSantaMaría,thisyearfrom 24 Julyto 31 August.

Dressto(casually)impress:Mencan’tgofarwrongcopyingthelookof

polo-playingRalphLaurenmodelNachoFigueras(poloshirtandchinos).

Ladies,thinkchicsummerdressesandcomfywedges(itisn’tAscot).

Steaksarehigh:HomesickArgentinianpoloplayersgettheirprotein

fixesatCanchaII,whichservesupsteaksflowninfromSouthAmerica

andflamedonatraditionalwood-burninggrill.Therusticrestaurantsits

abovetheAyalaClub’spologrounds,perfectforsundownerswhile

watchingtheeveningchukkas.

Startfromscratch:ChristianByrne,fromthefamilythatstartedluxury

skicompanyPowderByrne,hasturnedhisexpertisetosummer

activitieswithPoloValley.Withmorethan 50 ponies,including

afree-roamingShetland,itofferslessonsforallabilities.

Buyyourownstable:LaReservaClubSotogrande’slatestdevelopment,

ElMirador,stillhaspalatialmodernmansionsforsale(seepage 206 ).

Bestbyboat:Sotogrande’smarinaisneartheSantaMaríaPoloCluband

canhostyachtsupto70m.santamariapoloclub.com

Horse power

Four legs good, four ponies wielded by athletic

Argentinians better. Sophia Wilson gives

the lowdown on the finest spots to watch

the Sport of Kings via your superyacht

POLOPARLANCE

Chukka:Theperiodofplay,

lastingsevenminutes.

Levante Market, at the
Sotogrande Marina, offers food,
shopping and live entertainment

NachoFigueras(left)isabig

hitamongspectatorsand

shoppersatSantaMaría

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