Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

“There is a potential in Bulgaria to make large, even huge marinas, and if it happens – there will be also yachts because the process is interconnected. Both in Burgas and Varna there are many places that can be developed in the foreseeable future. However, many things have already changed for the better on recent years. 15 years ago there was no marina in Sozopol, now we have marina with more than 200 yachts. There was no marina in Sveti Vlas, in Balchik, Nessebar.” This was stated by the Director General of Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company during the National Forum “Sailing in the Black Sea” in Varna.

Anguel Zabourtov emphasized that in order for there to be a noticeable change in the development of sailing the branch should not only criticize but offer constructive proposals. He assured that he himself is always open to new ideas related to the development of ports, provided they are well-reasoned. Zabourtov was definite that the change should be evolutionary, not revolutionary.

The Director General of BPI Co. also said that the image of the big sea towns Burgas and Varna will continue to change. “We have freed some cargo berths and terminals from freight operations. There is no freight activity anymore, but that does not mean that we “move” the port. The port is there, we do not move it. When we talk about opening the harbours to the town, I always say we have to preserve the marine character. How do we keep it? Well, when there are yachts in front”, he commented.

Zabourtov added that BPI Co. already has projects to build the first pontoons in the two sea towns for up to 100 yachts designed to expand and hold thousands of boats as needed. And for the final, he wished marinas with many yachts, and did not forget to mention that “when we talk about the sea, we must not forget our most important responsibility – to teach the young people respect for it, because besides wonderful the sea is also an unpredictable force of nature”.

“The change does not happen from tomorrow to the next, but it is gradual, and I am optimistic and hopeful, because both in the Maritime Administration and BPI Co. there are exceptional people who are struggling to change things”, said Antoaneta Georgieva from “Cor Caroli Sailing Academy”.

On March 24, 2019 at Varna University of Economics, for the first time a national forum dedicated to sailing was held in Bulgaria, organized by “Cor Caroli Sailing Academy”. Among the speakers of the forum were sailors, owners of sailing yachts in Bulgaria and youths trained in sailing in youth programmes. For sailing – as a sport, profession, hobby and therapy, spoke the eldest Bulgarian, who toured the world alone with a yacht PhD Vasil Kurtev, the emblematic sailor Doncho Papazov, the Rector of the NSA Prof. Pencho Geshev, the international judge at the World Sailing federation Prof. Kamen Filyov and others.

The event was held with the support of BPI Co. On March 31, 2019 the sailing magic will be transferred to Sofia – at the National Sports Academy (NSA) “Vasil Levski”.