ABOUT US
RAFAEL VERDERA
Our Family / Crew
A FAMILY LEGACY UNDER SAIL
The Rafael Verdera is not just the oldest active sailing vessel in Spain, built in 1841, but also the beating heart of a family whose life has been dedicated to the sea and the preservation of maritime heritage.
My father, Miguel Ángel Arizmendi Arbaizar, along with his brothers, acquired the ship in 1985 in Ibiza. That marked the beginning of an ambitious restoration project, one rooted in deep respect for the ship’s original spirit and carried out using traditional methods. It was a long and demanding journey, full of effort and devotion, but in the end, they restored the Verdera to her former glory. Since then, she has continued to sail as a living symbol of Spain’s maritime heritage.
My mother, Nuria Fernández Tarrés, came aboard during one of those early voyages dedicated to whale and dolphin watching. That’s where she met Mikel, and a love story was born between the waves and shared horizons, and the two became inseparable both personally and professionally.
My sister Sara Sabina and I, Iñaki, were born and raised on the ship. On board the Rafael Verdera, we learned to love the sea, to live simply, and to uphold the values passed down by our parents: respect, dedication, authenticity and a deep love for tradition.
Today, I have the honour of continuing in their wake. My name is Iñaki Arizmendi Fernández, and I am captain of the Rafael Verdera. Every voyage we undertake is not only a continuation of a tradition: it’s a tribute to generations who have preserved history with steadfast hearts and the wind at their backs.
IÑAKI arizmendi
My name is Iñaki Arizmendi Fernández, and I am the current captain of the Rafael Verdera. But more than anything, I am a son of the sea. I grew up surrounded by sails, old wood, and stories of voyages that have shaped my family’s history. My childhood unfolded between tides and open horizons, learning to read the wind before I ever read a book.
From a young age, I knew my destiny was tied to this century-old sailboat, not just because of her beauty, or her place as the oldest Spanish vessel still at sea, but because she embodies the values that have shaped me: respect for nature, love for tradition and a commitment to a legacy that goes beyond possessions.
Every time we raise anchor, I feel that it’s not just a ship setting sail, but a living story that connects me to the past and carries me forward into a future where the sea remains teacher, home and horizon.
OUR VALUES
We are a family-run business, sailors who live from the sea, which is why we’ve always felt a strong responsibility to care for the environment that sustains us. Since the beginning of our journey with the Rafael Verdera, we have prioritised sustainability and responsible sailing. We take pride in using sail power as much as possible, keeping engine use to a minimum, cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and we recycle properly. We use traditional maintenance techniques to preserve the ship’s character and partner with local businesses that use sustainable production methods. Plus, we collaborate in projects that support both people and the natural world, always striving to be a role model for responsible and sustainable sailing.
rafael verdera
LIVE THE EXPERIENCE
Everything’s ready to set sail
