A Passion for the Sea

There are places where time follows its own unique rhythm. The sea. It is never the same. From storm to calm, the succession of events is rapid, sometimes unpredictable and always captivating.

In the middle of the ocean, looking all around, all you can see is sea. A scale like no other. There is the smell, the sun, the water, the fear, the courage, the preparation and, ultimately, the willingness to deal with whatever comes your way.

For Jorge Leitão, the current head of Leitão & Irmão and a representative of the sixth generation of the founding family, the sea and sailing have been part of his life since childhood. It is not just a sport, but also a way of life that values preparation, experience, respect for our surroundings and an awareness of our place in the world.

At the helm of the company since 1981, he has carried on a legacy that began in 1822, preserving the excellence of Portuguese craftsmanship whilst shaping the future of Leitão & Irmão.

The Sea as a School

The sea is a school that teaches us lessons in sport and in life.

The partnership between Leitão & Irmão and the Cascais Naval Club stems from this natural affinity: a shared set of values built on dedication, skill and the belief that we can always do better.

A Conversation with Jorge Leitão

How did your passion for sailing begin?

At home with my father, a sailor who introduced me to the sea. He gave me a rowing boat when I turned seven. It came in a huge cardboard box which we unwrapped at the Cascais Sailing Club, by the slipway, where the little green and white boat was launched into the sea.

What does the sea mean to you?

Beauty, strength and independence. At sea, we depend solely on our own actions.

The sea makes no excuses. That is why it offers the immense reward of calm waters, available only to those who have weathered the storm.

What does this partnership with the Cascais Naval Club mean?

I joined the sailing school at the Cascais Naval Club in 1965, when I was seven years old. My instructor was Mr Carlos Pantaleão. That’s where I learnt to be independent. At sea, we are defined by our actions. That was my school.

A legacy that lives on

Over the coming weeks, this partnership will enable us to share stories where the sea, jewellery and Portuguese heritage come together.

Because some passions span generations. And some stories continue to be written at sea. In particular, the history of Portugal.

According to Sir Charles Boxer, holder of the Camões Chair at King’s College London, Portugal was the only empire to have ruled all the world’s seas at the same time. And, incidentally, the Strait of Hormuz is also a topical issue at the moment.

Portugal and the sea. Endless inspiration.