Pedro Campos: "Zarzuela has never given me any guidelines"

• Profile Pedro Campos and his wife, the refuge of King Juan Carlos in his worst moments (and on his return to Spain)

After hosting Don Juan Carlos on his historic return to attend the Viajes InterRías trophy that was held in Sanxenxo last weekend, the name of sailor Pedro Campos (72) has caught the attention of the press around the world.

Something that he did not achieve his spectacular nautical record, which includes 18 world championships and 11 King of Sailing cups.

The father of Don Felipe, who chose to say goodbye to Spain on August 3, 2020 in Sanxenxo, spending his last night in the sailor's chalet on Nanín beach, has wanted to return to the point from where he left 21 months later .

Thursday.

After 7 in the afternoon, the private plane provided by the Emir Mohamed Bin Zayed, president of the emirates, landed at Vigo's Peinador airport.

At the foot of the stairs, his daughter, the Infanta Elena and Pedro Campos were waiting for him along with his wife Cristina, with whom, after embracing his daughter, they also merged into an emotional embrace.

friends , the

architect of his being able to return to racing despite his mobility problems in the 6m class thanks to the seat he has aft, almost had to rub his eyes when he saw him descend the ladder .

"In these almost two years we have believed so many times that he was going to return, that I already told myself:

. This time it was true," he recalls LOC.

The expectation at the airport and later in Sanxenxo itself exceeded anything imaginable, especially due to the multitude of national and foreign journalists covering the news, something that made the Infanta Elena exclaim: "There are more photographers than at my wedding! ".

Displaced people from all over Galicia and even from Madrid joined the press.

I imagine that he is amazed by the echo that the return of Don Juan Carlos has had.

It has been impressive, 180 journalists were accredited, the truth is that we have been overwhelmed.

Already on Wednesday, when the news was confirmed, I tried to find accommodation for a crew member and it was impossible to find a room in any hotel.

I remember that when Doña Sofía came with her husband in July 2019, many journalists came, but like never before. You and the Náutico organization turned to the press. As president of the Real Club Náutico, organizer of the regatta, I had two alternatives: get me out of the way or make their job easier, and I opted for the latter, it seemed the right thing to do.

I confess that on Thursday, before leaving for the airport to pick up the monarch,

I spent from 9:30 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon receiving one by one the media who wanted information about the event. They even received unusual attention. That night, when we returned with His Majesty to the chalet, it was very hot, and there were a lot press at the door, so my wife and I decided to get water, coke and some soft drinks.

The next day, at the Náutico, we also offered them fruit baskets.

And on Sunday at the trophy delivery in the dock, which is a work area, with permission from Mayor Telmo Martín, we allow photographers to cross the railing and go down to the level of the Monarch to make their work easier.

I repeat that we thought it was the right thing to do and also the behavior of the press was very respectful, we are very happy.

Well, the enormous media echo of the visit has received much criticism.

Nothing special was done from the official point of view, not even Xunta authorities were invited.

The mayor came, as always, but the protocol was the same as for a national regatta of this type, nothing to do with the European championship or now on June 10 with the 6m class World Championship.

But it was not in my power to stop the press or the number of people who wanted to come to the Náutico to receive the King. It has been published that Zarzuela is upset.

Have they contacted you? They have never done so, nor have they given me any guidelines, they have never done so.

Traditionally, with the entire Royal Family, I have always tried to do everything on my part so that things went well, I have the utmost respect for the Institution. Don Felipe's father loves going out to restaurants, but this time they have not done so once. once.

Was it discretion? No, it's just that we arrived very tired.

On Thursday, the first night, Don Juan Carlos had had a long trip, more than seven hours of flight.

Friday and Saturday the weather was not good at sea, on Friday it was very windy, and on Saturday it rained and stormed, and that exhausts you more when you sail.

We made a completely homemade life, only on Saturday night we organized a barbecue in the chalet with the crew of the Rogue, based on appetizers, a little ham, salads and grilled meat.

The cook was Roi, one of our crew members. What was Don Juan Carlos's reaction when he got on his sailboat after almost two years without setting foot on his ship? It caught my attention that just before getting on, he caressed the deck of the sailboat perhaps thinking how much he had wanted this moment to come. How have you seen him physically?

Much better than when he left.

And sailing, it has been good for him to cross that psychological barrier of the athlete who has not competed for a long time, it happens in sailing, or skiing, that one loses training.

It was good that he came before the championship, because he is going to have to defend the world title that he won in Finland in 2019 and for that you have to be at the highest level.

We'll see, there are three weeks left, hopefully he can come to compete or at least do it for a few days. The King has already announced that he will try to return.

Do you think there will be the same ruckus? I hope not, ha ha, I think this second trip will be quieter, and that it will be every time he comes in the future until his presence is something normal, as it was before .

that one is untrained.

It was good that he came before the championship, because he is going to have to defend the world title that he won in Finland in 2019 and for that you have to be at the highest level.

We'll see, there are three weeks left, hopefully he can come to compete or at least do it for a few days. The King has already announced that he will try to return.

Do you think there will be the same ruckus? I hope not, ha ha, I think this second trip will be quieter, and that it will be every time he comes in the future until his presence is something normal, as it was before .

that one is untrained.

It was good that he came before the championship, because he is going to have to defend the world title that he won in Finland in 2019 and for that you have to be at the highest level.

We'll see, there are three weeks left, hopefully he can come to compete or at least do it for a few days. The King has already announced that he will try to return.

Do you think there will be the same ruckus? I hope not, ha ha, I think this second trip will be quieter, and that it will be every time he comes in the future until his presence is something normal, as it was before .

The King has already announced that he will try to return.

Do you think there will be the same ruckus? I hope not, ha ha, I think this second trip will be quieter, and that it will be every time he comes in the future until his presence is something normal, as it was before .

The King has already announced that he will try to return.

Do you think there will be the same ruckus? I hope not, ha ha, I think this second trip will be quieter, and that it will be every time he comes in the future until his presence is something normal, as it was before .

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