The Mayor Of Barcelona Wishes 'Fair Winds' To The Barcelona World Race Skippers

The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias visited the Race Dock to meet the 16 Barcelona World Race skippers who represent nine different nationalities as they make their final preparations for their eight IMOCA 60s in readiness to start to the 24,000 miles non-stop race around the world on December 31st.

Each of the skippers and their respective boats were introduced to the mayor of the Catalan capital who was joined by the deputy mayor Maite Fandos who is the President of the FNOB, and the President of the Port of Barcelona Sixte Cambra.
While they race around the world each of the duos has been charged with a valuable mission, launching a data collection beacon which will monitor different scientific criteria from the world’s oceans, contributing substantially to a number of different UNESCO projects. This morning each of the crews were formally given their respective beacons and received details of ‘their’ research topic.

The duos met with the director of Ocean Sciences Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Luis Valdés, and scientists and representatives of organisations that the Barcelona World Race collaborates with: Albert Palanques, Jordi Salat and Jaume Piera of the Sciences Institute of the Sea (ICM) and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Salvador Borrós the Chemical Institute of Sarria (IQS) and Luigi Ceccaroni of Barcelona Digital Technology Centre (BDigital) and Xavier Torras, director of the We Are Water Foundation.

Each team were given a graphical information sheet which summarised their corresponding topic. All of the initiatives were originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Scientific Research which was held a year ago in Barcelona. The teams received identical Argo beacons, each weighing 18 kilos which will allow data to be collected for the projects which facilitate a greater understanding of climate change.

“Barcelona is a city that lives facing the sea.” said the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, “So we are very proud to organize the Barcelona World Race for the third consecutive year. Thank you very much, skippers, for participating, for working on scientific projects and contribute to the projection of Barcelona throughout the world.”

Who’s who on the Barcelona World Race:
Hugo Boss (GBR),Alex Thomson (GBR), 43, and Pepe Ribes (ESP), 40: A duo which shares one single objective: winning. Thomson was second in the first edition and Ribes cut his teeth with a fourth place on Estrella Damm in 2010-11. Their boat is the VPLP-Verdier which won the last race as Virbac-Paprec 3 for Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron.

Renault Captur (ESP),Jorge Riechers (GER) 46, and Sébastien Audigane (FRA), 46: A well travelled duo who have raced together previously in Class 40 but only received their IMOCA 60 a few weeks ago. Audigane brings round the world experience and solid allround skills, Riechers has progressed from Mini to Class 40 to IMOCA. Their Finot-Conq design is the ex Brit-Air and Votre Nom Autorur du Monde.

Neutrogena (ESP) Guillermo Altadill (ESP) 52, José Munoz 42 (CHI): Altadill has vast experience around the world but did not finish in 2007-8. He is joined by Chile’s Munoz who finished second in the Global Ocean Race. They have sailed two Transatlantics together and proved competitive in the IMOCA Ocean Masters New York Barcelona race. Their Farr boat was third in the Vendée Globe as Hugo Boss.

One Planet, One Ocean & Pharmaton (ESP),Didac Costa (ESP) 34, Alex Gelabert (ESP), 37: Round the world rookies racing the venerable Owen Clarke design Kingfisher. Both come from Mini racing, Gelabert is an architect who worked as preparateur for Corbella and Caffari on GAES Centros Auditivos in 2010-11.

Cheminées Poujoulat (FRA), Bernard Stamm (SUI) 51, Jean Le Cam (FRA) 55: A truly formidable pairing possessing lots of round the world experience and a well sorted Farr design modified and optimised as Mare. Limited preparation time but long on talent and years in the game.

GAES Centros Auditivos (ESP),Anna Corbella (ESP) 38, and Gérard Marin, (ESP) 32: ¬Longest prep time of any of the teams, both competed in 2010-2011 on different boats, aiming for a podium this time. Boat is Farr ex Gitana 80, Renault XE, Synerciel.

We Are Water (ESP), Bruno Garcia (ESP) 47, Willy Garcia (ESP) 42: Amateur but experienced brothers, Spanish pioneers in Figaro and Mini. Bruno trained and raced with Le Cam in 2010-11 but dismasted. Late, late programme. Boat finished fourth as Estrella Damm in last Barcelona World Race.

Spirit of Hungary (HUN),Nandor Fa (HUN) 61, Conrad Colman (NZL/USA) 31: Fascinating combination, race’s oldest and youngest skippers but share four racing circumnavigations between them. Self taught Fa – who worked in the office of Ben Lexcen – designed the boat himself and built a lot of it. He was first non French skipper to finish the Vendée Globe. Colman won the Global Ocean Race with a different co-skipper on each leg. Boat is designed to new IMOCA rule.