| Name |
Iker Martinez de Lizarduy |
Xabier Fernandez |
| Date of Birth |
28292 |
28052 |
| Place of Birth |
San Sebastian, Spain |
Ibarra, Spain |
| Profession |
Sailor |
Sailor |
| ISAF World Sailing Ranking |
1 - 49er World Ranking - Open High Performance Dinghy |
Click here to view Iker and Xabier's Skippers Report |
| Age started sailing |
7 |
7 |
| First boat sailed |
Optimist |
Optimist |
| Age started racing |
10 |
8 |
| First boat raced |
Optimist |
Optimist |
| What inspired you to take up sailing? |
My family |
Beautiful free sport and friends |
| How did you buy your first boat? |
It was my birthday present |
My parents |
| Which was your first sailing club? |
Club Nautico Hondarribia, Spain |
Club Vela Navarra, Spain |
| First Event competed in and Year |
Optimist 1989 |
Optimist 1983 |
| First Event won and Year |
Optimist 1989 |
Optimist 1987 |
| Principle achievements |
1992 1st Spanish Optimist Nationals |
1992 1st Vaurien Junior Worlds |
| Principle achievements |
1992 1st Vaurien Junior Championships |
2000 3rd 49er Europeans |
| Principle achievements |
4 times Vaurien World Champion |
2001 2nd 49er Europeans and Worlds |
| Principle achievements |
2001 2nd 49er Europeans and Worlds |
2002 1st 49er Europeans and Worlds |
| Principle achievements |
2002 1st 49er Europeans and Worlds |
|
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
1992 Sailing an Optimist |
2001 and 2002 seasons with the 49er Worlds and Eurolymp Regattas |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
1996 Sailing Vaurien |
2001 and 2002 seasons with the 49er Worlds and Eurolymp Regattas |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
2001-2002 sailing the 49er |
2001 and 2002 seasons with the 49er Worlds and Eurolymp Regattas |
| What are your future sailing aspirations? |
Olympic Games and Volvo Ocean Race |
Olympic Games, America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race |
| Briefly state what sailing means to you |
The second most important thing in my life after my family and friends |
At the moment it is the best work I can do and the thing I really want to do. |
| Who has had the greatest impact or inspiration in your sailing career and why? |
First my grandfather and then my coach Alejandro Abascal, they are really traditional and good sailors |
My family - because they are always with me and our 49er coach Alejandro Abascal with his experience and knowledge |
| Who do you consider to be your sailing hero? |
Alejandro Abascal and Luis Doreste |
Many sailors |
| What other sports do you participate in outside of sailing? |
Surfing |
Cycling |
| What other sports do you participate in outside of sailing? |
Windsurfing |
Cycling |
| What other sports do you participate in outside of sailing? |
Cycling |
Cycling |
| Who do you consider to be the greatest sailor in the World and why? |
Paul Cayard because he sails well in Olympic Classes, in the Volvo Ocean Race, the America’s Cup, Farr 40s, IMS etc etc (one of the most complete sailors) |
Many sailors in many different kinds of sailing |
| Briefly state what being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award 2002 means to you |
Something very special, one of my aspirations since I was a child. |
It is a very important thing for me as all the dedication I’ve given to sailing is recognised. |
| If voted as the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2002, briefly say what will this mean to you? |
It will be a prize for all the years that I have trained, helped by my crews, friends, family and coaches. It is a prize for them all. |
This will mean the best prize I can receive after these four years working in the 49er Class. |
With an impressive string of first place finishes at ISAF Grade 1 and Grade 2 events over the last twelve months, including claiming the World and European Championship titles, Iker and Xabier are clearly making their presence known in the 49er class.
