Barcelona World Race 2010/2011 | start

På nyårsafton startar Barcelona World Race. Doublehanded runt jorden i IMOCA 60. I mina ögon ett av de riktigt coola racen, då två man kan driva båtarna mycket hårdare än soloseglarna.

Både Jesper Hoffstedt och Seilas har gjort analyser av deltagarna.

Jag tror det står mellan Foncia och Virbac-Paprec 3. Tätt därefter Estrella Damm, Groupe Bel & Président. Hugo Boss och Mapfre kan skrälla. Alla teamen presenterade nedan.

På nyårsafton startar Barcelona World Race. Doublehanded runt jorden i IMOCA 60. I mina ögon ett av de riktigt coola racen, då två man kan driva båtarna mycket hårdare än soloseglarna.

Både Jesper Hoffstedt och Seilas har gjort analyser av deltagarna.

Jag tror det står mellan Foncia och Virbac-Paprec 3. Tätt därefter Estrella Damm, Groupe Bel & Président. Hugo Boss och Mapfre kan skrälla. Alla teamen presenterade nedan.

Central Lechera Asturiana

Juan Merediz – Fran Palacio

This is a début for Juan Merediz and Fran Palacio in a round the world competition. Juan has extensive experience in the Spanish cruiser circuit, dinghy sailing and Mini and Figaro Class offshore sailing: he raced in the 1995 and 1997 Mini Transat and reached second place in the newcomer class in the Solitaire du Figaro.

Fran Palacio started off in dinghy sailing and was runner-up in the European Snipe Youth Class in 2001. Since then, he has made the step up into larger classes, with two silver medals in the ORC 670 class on Turismo de Madrid and participation in the International GP 42 Class in 2008 with the same team.

The pair are racing on the former Mutua Madrileña, the yacht Bubi Sansó and Pachi Rivero took fourth place with in the first edition of the Barcelona World Race. Juan and Fran sailed the yacht together in the recent “Vuelta a España a Vela”, the Round Spain Race, which gave them the opportunity to get the boat race-ready, pitting her against latest generation models.

Designer: Owen Clarke Design
Shipyard: Southern Ocean Marine, New Zealand.
Launch: May 2003
Previous names: Ecover 2, Mutua Madrileña
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.7 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 9,000 kg
Daggerboards (number and type): 2 assymmetric
Keel blade material: Steel
Bulb material: Lead
Mast manufacturer: Southern Spars
Mast height: 25,80m
Rigging: (replacement Dec 2010) classic 3 spreader fixed rig
Total sail area close-hauled: 300 m2
Total sail downwind: 525 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: Wheel
Rudder blades: Fixed, under hull
Autopilots onboard: 5
Onboard energy source: solar power and a generator.

Estrella Damm Sailing Team

Alex Pella – Pepe Ribes

Since flying the Estrella Damm colours Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes have notched up two big offshore successes. Last April they became the first ever team to set the New York – Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record, completing the passage in 12 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes and 48 seconds. The next challenge was the “Vuelta a España a Vela”, the Round Spain Race, where the team finished as top Spanish crew, taking third place behind French teams French teams on Safran and PRB.

Alex Pella developed his offshore knowhow in the tough Mini Class, principally via three brilliant Mini-Transat entries, including two podium finishes. The Spaniard who hails from Barcelona has a career as a professional sailor but has prepared racing yachts for over ten years in classes ranging from the Figaro Class, Class 40, the IMOCA Open 60s, ORMA 60, TP 52s, and the IMS Classes.

Pepe Ribes joins this Barcelona World Race on the back of his impressive experience of three circumnavigations of the globe, crewing on different Spanish and international projects. He is a seasoned expert of the Volvo Ocean Race and has also taken part in two America’s Cups. Ribes is an experienced boat-builder and a composite specialist.

Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard: Southern Ocean Marine (New Zealand)
Launch: February 2007
Previous names: Paprec-Virbac 2, W Hotels
Length: 18.28 m (60 feet)
Beam: 5.85 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 9,200 kg
Centreboards: 2 asymmetric straight
Keel blade material: precision steel
Bulb material: lead
Mast height: 28.5 m
Mast manufacturer: Southern Spars
Type of rigging: rotating mast with articulated spreaders and one single diamond
Total sail area close hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 570 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: 2 kick-up
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: hydro-generator, generator engine (200 Lt. of diesel), lithium batteries.

Foncia

Michel Desjoyeaux – François Gabart

Michel Desjoyeaux is the only man to have won the Vendée Globe twice and is the sailor with the most victories in solo and double-handed racing, making him a living legend in international offshore sailing. Last spring ‘Le Professeur’, as he is known in the sailing world, began the build of his new Foncia with the aim of taking on another IMOCA Open 60 campaign: The Route du Rhum and the Barcelona World Race. Aside from his exceptional talents on the race course, Desjoyeaux has always been an innovator when it comes to technology: since his first Mini-Transat, where he unveiled a canting keel and an articulating bowsprit, the Breton has surprised technicians and sailors with each and every one of his boats, with ideas that later become universally adopted.

Shortly before his new yacht left the yard, he announced that he would be team up with François Gabart for this double-handed round the world challenge. The skippers know each other very well from the Figaro Class circuit, in which Michel has long been a key figure. François is an emerging talent, having taken second place in the Solitaire du Figaro this summer and second place in the Transat Jacques Vabre last year with Kito de Pavant.

Designer: VPLP / Verdier
Shipyard: Green Marine (GBR) / CDK Technologies (FRA) / JMV (FRA)
Launch: September 2010
Previous names: (New boat)
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.9 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 7,800 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 straight asymmetric
Keel blade material: carbon.
Bulb material: lead
Mast manufacturer:N.A.
Mast height: 27,30m
Type of rig: wing shape rotating mast with outriggers
Total sail area close hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 660 m2
Number of sails onboard:10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: kick-up, symmetrical
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: Hydro-generator and electric generator.

Fòrum Marítim Català

Gerard Marín – Ludovic Aglaor

For the young Spaniard from Girona, Gerard Marín, the project Fòrum Marítim Català is a big step forward. His incorporation into the IMOCA Open 60 Class follows a successful trajectory in the Mini Class, where he raced in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 seasons (Mini GAES Solidaria team), having previously carved an important career in the international Europe Class.

Joining this promising young Spanish offshore sailor is experienced French sailor Ludovic Aglaor, winner of the 2005 Jules Verne Trophy aboard Bruno Peyron’s Orange 2 and the Tea Route 2008 onboard maxi-catamaran Gitana 13, skippered by Lionel Lemonchois. Aglaor’s extensive experience in offshore sailing includes 19 Transatlantic crossings. His expertise in boat preparation means that he has been called on for campaigns by Alain Gautier, Philippe Poupon and Dominique Vittet, among others.

Designer: Owen Clarke Design
Shipyard: Marten Yachts (New Zealand)
Launch: 2000
Previous names: Kingfisher
Length: 18.28 m (60 feet)
Beam: 5.3 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 8,900 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 straight
Keel blade material: steel
Bulb material: lead
Mast height: 26m
Mast manufacturer: Southern Spars
Rigging:
Total sail area close-hauled: 240 m2
Total sail area downwind: 470 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: 2 tillers
Rudder blades: 2 under the hull
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: Wind generator, hydro generator and engine

Fruit

Krzysztof Owczarek – Armand Coursodon

Fruit, with Krzysztof “Kris” Owczarek and Frenchman Armand Coursodon is the first IMOCA Open 60 to fly the Polish flag. The yacht itself is the entry Desjoyeaux sailed to victory in the Vendée Globe 2000-1 and Riou took victory on in 2005; and it’s the yacht Owczarek and Coursodon hope to make history with by making it the first boat to win three round the world regattas.

The Polish skipper, with experience of racing large yachts with full crews and over 60,000 miles under his belt is embarking on his first double-handed experience.

Coursodon is a seasoned offshore racing competitor, such as the 2004 Jules Verne Trophy on Geronimo and the Oryx Quest 2005 and the Race, which he was forced to abandon due to a back injury. He is also preparing his own campaign for the 2012 Vendée Globe.

Designer: Finot Conq
Shipyard: MAG France Fontenay le Comte
Launch: 2000
Previous names: PRB, Roxy
Length: 18.28 m (60 feet)
Beam: 5.40 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 9,000 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 straight
Keel blade material: Steel
Bulb material: Lead
Mast height: 26 m
Mast manufacturer: N/A
Rigging: N/A
Total sail area close hauled: 280 m2
Total sail area downwind:540 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: 2 kick-up
Autopilots onboard: N/A
Onboard energy source: N/A

GAES Centros Auditivos

Dee Caffari-Anna Corbella

Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella head up the first female duo to take part in the Barcelona World Race. The British-Spanish pair will sail on the former Aviva, the yacht Caffari completed the most recent Vendée Globe with. Britain’s Dee Caffari is yachtswoman of the moment, after having become the first female in 2006 to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop from East to West. Caffari has two Transat Jacques Vabre races under her belt, as well as the Round Britain and Ireland Monohull Speed Record. When she finished in sixth place in the Vendée Globe 2008/09 the former teacher became the first woman to sail solo around the world in both directions.

For Catalan Anna Corbella, the Barcelona World Race is the culmination of an impressive upwards trajectory over the last two years, which has seen her become the first Spanish woman to cross the Atlantic solo in the famously tough Transat 6.50 2009. Anna took a respectable 13th place in this race with GAES Solidaria 385, making a better result than many latest generation designs. Her sailing career began in dinghy sailing, with two Spanish Championships (470 and 420), as well as two pre-Olympic campaigns. Anna has repeatedly stated that one of her main ambitions was to take part in the Barcelona World Race and she has been involved in the technical and logistical preparation of various IMOCA Open 60s (Pakea Bizkaia and Educación sin Fronteras).

Designer: Owen Clarke Design LLP / Clay Oliver
Shipyard: Hakes Marine Construction, Wellington (New Zealand)
Launch: December 2007
Previous names: Aviva
Length: 18.28 m (60 feet)
Beam: 5.57m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 9,000 kg
Centreboards: 2 asymmetric, carbon fibre
Keel blade material: steel
Bulb material: lead
Mast height: 27.5 m
Mast manufacturer: Southern Spars
Type of Rigging: N/A
Total sail area close hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 580 m2
Number of sails onboard:10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: 2 under the hull.
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: generator

Groupe Bel

Kito de Pavant – Sébastien Audigane

With this Barcelona World Race Kito de Pavant is hoping to put behind him memories of his abandoned Vendée Globe behind him, by completing his first circumnavigation of the globe. He has an exceptional partner with which to do so in the form of Sébastien Audigane. Kito is one of France’s most outstanding solo sailors. He has risen through the ranks of the Figaro Class and has notched up three spectacular victories in the Solitaire du Figaro 2002, the Transat AG2R 2006 and the Solo Med 2006. In the IMOCA Open 60 Class, he came second in the 2009Transat Jacques Vabre on Groupe Bel, (regatta in which he finished third in 2005) took second place in the Istanbul Europa Race 2009, with Sébastien Audigane onboard. Kito has raced extensively on multihulls and has some 35 Atlantic crossings under his belt, two Indian Ocean crossings, one Pacific and the South China Sea.

Sébastien Audigane is a multihull speed expert. He broke a distance record for 24 hours in 2009 with 907 miles, the North Atlantic Record in 2009, sailed the Discovery Route in 2007 and the 2005 Jules Verne Trophy, which he has also competed in five times. His IMOCA Open 60 experience is broad and he was involved in campaigns with Roland Jourdain, Yann Eliès, Marc Guillemot adn Johny Malbon. Like Kito, Sébastien has an extensive Figaro Class CV, with seven Solitaires du Figaro and three Transat AG2R entries.

Designer: VPLP / Verdier
Shipyard: Indiana Yachting (Italy)
Launch: 6 september 2007
Previous names:
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.5 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 8,500 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 straight asymmetric.
Keel blade material: Carbon
Bulb material: Lead
Mast manufacturer: Formula France
Mast height: 27 m
Rigging: wing shaped rotating mast with outriggers.
Total sail area close-hauled: 310 m2
Total sail area downwind: 570 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: Wheel
Rudder blades: under hull, can be removed via deck.
Autopilots onboard: 1
Onboard energy source: Solar, hydro-dynamic, wind and generator engine

Hugo Boss

Alex Thomson – Andy Meiklejohn

Having taken second place in the first edition, Alex Thomson is racing again in the colours of Hugo Boss. This time his co-skipper is New Zealand’s Andy Meiklejohn and the boat the pair will be racing is the former Pindar, which has undergone an exhaustive refit in preparation for this race.

Thomson has twice beaten the 24 speed record: in 2003 (468 miles) and during the previous edition of the Barcelona World Race with Andrew Cape sailing 501.3 miles, a record which he aims to top in the upcoming edition of the regatta. The success meant Alex partially excorcised memories of retiring from the Vendée Globe 2004 and the 2006 Velux 5 Oceans Alex is also seeking to avenge another race setback: his withdrawal from the Vendée Globe 2008/09 when he suffered irreparable hull damage in the first big storm of the race.

Andy Meiklejohn has over 100,000 miles under his belt and has sailed in all types of offshore races, including the Oryx Quest in 2004 and the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. The New Zealander is also an expert in technical and tactical matters. Alex and Andy have known each other for many years, having sailed together for the first time in the Commodore’s Cup 2004. Andy joined Alex Thomson Racing at the start of the year with overall responsibility for boat performance. He has sailed over 12,000 miles alongside Alex on the boat, which will surely show when it comes to the race.

Designer: Juan Kouyoumdjian
Shipyard: Cookson Boats, Auckland (New Zealand).
Launch: May 2007
Previous names: Pindar
Length: 18,29 m
Beam: 6.5 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 10,000 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 asymmetric
Keel blade material: steel
Bulb material: lead
Mast manufacturer: N/A
Mast height: N/A
Type of rigging: classic mast with four spreaders
Total sail area close hauled: 430 m2
Total sail area downwind: 740 m2
Number of sails onboard:10
Rudder: wheel
Rudder blades: kick-up
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: generator and wind generator.

Mapfre

Iker Martínez-Xabi Fernández

Spaniards Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández, double Olympic medallists and three time European and World champions in the 49er Class have become Spain’s most successful sailing team ever. Both skippers are now taking on the Barcelona World Race 2010 as a new offshore challenge, following their experiences in the 2005 and 2008/09 editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The duo have been sailing together in the 49er Class since 1999 and they also embarked on their offshore careers together onboard the Volvo Ocean Race Movistar team in 2005, with Iker as skipper and Xabi at the helm and trimming. They weren’t able to complete the circumnavigation of the globe on that occasion, but they managed to do so on Telefónica Blue in 2009, with an overall third place finish, two leg victories and four inshore wins. This duo has an extensive successful history of races together and works together perfectly. The pair will sail the former Foncia, the yacht Michel Desjoyeaux took to victory in the most recent Vendée Globe and with which the Spanish duo took fifth place in this year’s Vuelta a España a Vela

Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard CDK Technologies.
Launch: 2007
Previous names: Foncia
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.9 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 8,000 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 straight
Keel blade material: Stainless steel
Bulb material: Lead
Mast manufacturer: CDK Technologies
Mast height: 28m
Rigging: rotating mast with outriggers
Total sail area close-hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 620 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: hanging kick-up
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: generator

Mirabaud

Dominique Wavre – Michèle Paret

Dominique Wavre is the most prolific Swiss ocean racer, with an impressive six circumnavigations of the globe under his belt, making him the most experienced round the world yachtsman of the fleet. He will be teaming up again with his partner Michèle Paret, with whom he reached third place in the previous edition of the race. Dominique is part a small elite rank of Swiss offshore sailors, sailing the Whitbread in 1981 on Disque d’Or owned by compatriot Pierre Felhman. He went on to sail two further Whitbreads with Fehlman (1986 and 1990) and notched up victories in Olympic sailing and as coach of France’s America’s Cup team. He has completed two Vendée Globes, a Barcelona World Race, nine transats and four Solitaire du Figaros.

Michèle Paret began double-handed sailing alongside Dominique in the Figaro Class in the Transat AGR2 1998. Michèle already had offshore mileage behind her having sailed the Whitbread in 1990 on Maiden and beat the Atlantic record with a female crew on the Royal and Sun Alliance. Dominique and Michèle finished in seventh place in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2001 and repeated that position in the 2003 edition. Together they have over 400,000 miles and eight circumnavigations of the globe between them.

Designer: Owen Clarke Design LLP / Clay Oliver
Shipyard: Southern Ocean Marine (New Zealand)
Launch: June 2006
Previous names: Temenos II
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.50 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: N/A
Centreboards (number and type): 2 asymmetric straight
Keel blade material: Carbon
Bulb material: N/A
Mast height: N/A
Mast manufacturer: N/A
Type of rigging: N/A
Total sail area close hauled: N/A
Total sail area downwind: N/A
Number of sails onboard:10
Rudder: 2 wheels
Rudder blades: 2 under the hull
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: generator engine, solar power.

Neutrogena

Boris Herrmann – Ryan Breymaier

Germany’s Boris Herrmann has joined forces with the USA’s Ryan Breymaier. Both skippers will race on Neutrogena, the former Veolia Environnement, the IMOCA Open 60 which Roland Jourdain and Jean-Luc Nélias sailed in the first edition of the Barcelona World Race. For Boris, this is his second racing circumnavigation of the globe after winning the Class 40 Portimao Global Ocean Race during 2008-09. The German sailor is an excellent example of the step by step progression of solo and double-handed offshore sailing: Mini Class, Class 40 and now the IMOCA Open 60 Class.

Ryan Breymaier is a sailor raised in Annapolis. He has extensive experience in many different top level campaigns, and whilst this is his début in a round the world event, he is has a full CV of boat preparation; from huge offshore multihulls such as Playstation for the Jules Verne Trophy to TP52s such as Aifos and Sjambok, and indeed Veolia Environnement itself for the previous edition of the Barcelona World Race and the 2008-9 Vendée Globe. He therefore knows the boat he’ll be sailing very well indeed, having formed part of Jourdain and Nélias’ technical crew since the 2007 including the Barcelona World Race, the 2008-9 Vendée Globe and the 2009 Istanbul Europa Race when he joined Jourdain’s sailing crew.

Designer: Marc Lombard
Shipyard: JMV Industries, Cherbourg (France).
Launch: April 2004
Previous names: Sill, Veolia Environnement
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.8 m (7.5 including outriggers)
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 9,000 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 asymmetric
Keel blade material: Steel
Bulb material: Lead and Tungsten
Mast manufacturer: not given
Mast height: 2750 m
Type of rigging: rotating mast with outriggers
Total sail area close hauled: 390 m2
Total sail area downwind: 600 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: kick-up
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: hydro-generator, wind generator and generator.

Président

Jean Le Cam – Bruno García

Frenchman Jean Le Cam is one of the world’s leading figures in offshore sailing. His CV boasts seven victories in long distance races, three of those in the notoriously tough Solitaire du Figaro, making him a legend in the Figaro Class, one of the most important talent pools for the IMOCA Open 60 Class. In his first Vendée Globe Jean came second and in the edition following that he was forced to abandon the race after losing the keel bulb, resulting in a rescue by Vincent Riou near Cape Horn. This sailor’s extraordinary career also extends to the multihull world. He took the North Atlantic record on Patrick Morvan’s Jet Services II and won a Course de l’Europe in 1991 with Laurent Bourgnon, and is twice world champion in the Formula 40 Class.

Jean is sailing with Bruno García, one of the few Spaniards to feature in the Mini and Figaro classes. In fact, it was during the course of one of the three Solitaire du Figaro regattas that Bruno and Jean met. Bruno García is a Catalan cardiologist who has crossed the Atlantic twice in a race: in 1994 he raced the Transat AG2R in Figaro with his brother Willy and in 2003 he gave a great performance in the Mini-Transat finishing in fifth place.
Technical Characteristics

Designer: Owen Clarke Design LLP
Shipyard: Hakes Marine Construction (Wellington, New Zealand)
Launch: August 2007
Previous names: Ecover 3
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.80 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 8,300 Kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 asymmetric, straight
Keel blade material: Carbon
Bulb material: N/A
Mast height: 27 m
Mast manufacturer: N/A
Rigging: N/A
Total sail area close-hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 580 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: Wheel (2)
Rudder blades: 2 under the hull.
Autopilots onboard: N/A
Onboard energy source: generator engine

Renault Z.E. Sailing Team

Pachi Rivero – Toño Piris

Pachi Rivero is the only Spanish skipper to be taking the starting line of the Barcelona World Race for a second time. In the previous edition he teamed up with Bubi Sansò and took Mutua Madrileña to fourth place, after a spectacular race in which they almost landed a podium finish following a long battle with Dominque Wavre and Michèle Paret’s Temenos II.

Joining Pachi is fellow countryman Antonio Piris, one of Spain’s most experienced top-level regatta sailors. ‘Toño’ or ‘Talpi’, as he is known in the word of sailing, has sailed twice around the world, four times across the Atlantic and two Tours of Europe. Hailing from the northern Spanish region of Cantabria (as does Pachi), he has a long track record in top-level regatta circuits, such as the Maxi Circuit, Audi MedCup and four America’s Cup. He not only has racing experience, but also technical know how and his experience in boat building, as well as preparation of racing teams make him one of offshore sailing’s most adept onboard technical experts. The Spanish team will reach the starting line well-trained and well versed in their yacht’s performance and capabilities. Pachi sailed her in the Istanbul Europa Race, in the Transat Jacques Vabre and with Toño, they sailed the yacht in the New York – Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record.

Design: Bruce Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard: Southern Ocean Marine (New Zealand)
Launch: July 2007
Former names: Gitana Eighty, Estrella Damm, 1876, W Hotels
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.80 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 8.800kg
Centreboards: 2 straight asymmetricalKeel blade material: steel
Bulb material: lead
Mast height: 29 m
Mast manufacturer: Hallspars
Rig: Classic three spreaders
Sail area close-hauled: 320 m2
Sail area downwind: 600 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: 2 kick-up
Autopilots: B&G
Onboard energy source: generator engine and hydro generator

Virbac-Paprec 3

Jean-Pierre Dick – Loïck Peyron

Jean Pierre Dick, along with Damian Foxall was the brilliant winner of the first edition of the Barcelona World Race. He has become one of solo sailing’s key figures, one of the most successful double-handed yachtsmen ever, with two victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre. The first of the Transat victories was alongside Loïck Peyron, with whom he’ll be racing in this second edition of the Barcelona World Race, making up one of the most powerful partnerships in the regatta fleet.

Loïck Peyron is a sailor with a spectacular CV. It dates right back to the 1980s and includes all of the offshore disciplines from the Mini Class to Maxi catamarans, via intense and fruitful campaigns in the IMOCA Open 60 Class and in the ORMA 60 Multihull class. Loïck has completed two circumnavigations of the globe and a whopping 42 Atlantic crossings, 18 of those solo.

Jean-Pierre and Loïck have also developed other technical projects together, such as the design and build of Paprec-Virbac 2 and Gitana Eighty (the current Estrella Damm and Renault). They will sail the new Virbac-Paprec 3, which both skippers sailed from Panama to Newport (over 4,300 miles). The new boat reveals many innovations and will reach the starting line having been tested thoroughly.

Designer: VPLP / Verdier
Shipyard: Cookson Boats (New Zealand)
Launch: May 2010
Previous names: (New)
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.7 m
Draught: 4.5 m
Displacement: 7,500 kg
Centreboards (number and type): 2 curved
Keel blade material: Steel
Bulb material: Lead
Mast manufacturer: Southern Spars
Mast height: 29 m
Type of rigging: fixed mast with two sets of spreaders and one backstay
Total sail area close hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 590 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Rudder: tiller
Rudder blades: kick-up
Autopilots onboard: 2
Onboard energy source: Hydro-generator

We Are Water

Jaume Mumbrú – Cali Sanmartí

Barcelona’s Jaume Mumbrú and Cali Sanmartí are competing in the Barcelona World Race as the team We Are Water. The two skippers made their début in the IMOCA class as crew in the Round Spain Race this year, where they managed to overcome considerable adversity.

Jaume Mumbrú is a lawyer with a long track record as a solo sailor. He has been one of Spain’s most active Mini Class sailors, without giving up racing on larger yachts, as, for example, in the Tour of Europe 1999 on board the IMOCA Open 60 Optral.

Cali Sanmartí is an engineer and has been a pro sailor since 2003. He’s also combined competition in the Mini and larger yacht classes, competing in events such as Le Voiles de St Tropez and the Sydney-Hobart. The team is making the most of the Barcelona World Race framework to take the name of the We Are Water foundation and its mission (to raise awareness of the need to reduce the negative effects of a lack of water resources) around the world. Murumbú’s two Transat entries mean that he has extensive experience in solo and two-crew offshore racing, and combined with Sanmartí’s impressive technical training gained on different large yachts this bodes well for the future of the team.

Designer: Pierre Rolland
Shipyard: Bernard Stamm
Launch: 2000 in Lesconil (Brittany, France)
Former names: Armor Lux/Foie gras Bizac, Bobst Group/Armor Lux, Cheminées Poujoulat/Armor Lux and Cheminées Poujoulat
Length: 18.28 m
Beam: 5.60 m
Draught: 4.50 m
Displacement: 8,120 kg
Centreboards (number and type): straight, central and movable
Keel blade material: carbon
Bulb material: lead/tungsten
Total sail area close-hauled: 300 m2
Total sail area downwind: 580 m2
Number of sails onboard: 10
Manufacturer of mast: CDK- Lorima
Mast height: 26.50 m
Rigging: sloop
Rudder: suspended with stock
Keel blades: 2
Autopilots: 2 + 1 backup
Onboard energy source: two alternators, wind generator and solar panels