Credit : BWR
In the very early hours of the morning it was Alex Thomson (GBR) and Andy Meiklejohn (NZL) on Hugo Boss who concluded and challenging sail from Gosport, England followed at just after midday by Ryan Breymaier (USA) and Boris Hermann (GER) who sailed non stop from Concarneau on Neutrogena, with Jean Le Cam (FRA) and Bruno Garcia tied up in the marina by 1500hrs this afternoon on Président, after their passage from Port-la-Forêt.
Next to arrive, this evening should be double Olympic medallists Iker Martinez (ESP) and Xabi Fernandez (ESP) on their ESP 45, iker-xabi.com. The duo are expected around midnight. Also still at sea are Dominique Wavre (SUI) and Michèle Paret (FRA) expected Friday or Saturday on Mirabaud. and the jury rigged Central Lechera Asturiana which is making steady progress towards Barcelona.
Each of today’s arrivals confirmed that their delivery passage to Barcelona had provided them with a comprehensive test of their boats and equipment sailing in a wide range of weather conditions, from strong downwind on the Bay of Biscay, headwinds around Portugal and through Gibraltar followed by spells of lighter winds in the Mediterranean.
NEUTROGENA
Non stop from Concarneau, Ryan Breymaier (USA) and Boris Hermann (GER) were gifted the perfect warm welcome into Barcelona, docking in sunshine just after 1230hrs this afternoon.
After leaving Brittany with snow on the decks of their IMOCA Open 60 Neutrogena at 1800hrs last Wednesday, the duo enjoyed a final fast blast in over 30 knots of breeze under spinnaker in warm Mediterranean sunshine as the perfect greeting before they get down to the final small details to be attended to this week and deal with their pre-start commitments.
The duo were joined by three other crew for the delivery which went without a problem and offered them a good final training and testing session.
Ryan Breymaier (USA), summed up:
“It was a pretty easy trip. We left in good weather, it was super cold and we had snow on the deck, we has snowstorms four or five times during the trip across the Bay of Biscay and then after Finisterre we went downwind for a little while and just managed to squeak in ahead of the depression which was arriving on the Portuguese coast, by design more or less, then we went upwind for 12 or so hours in 30-35 knots and then upwind again at Gibraltar in up to 40 knots, which seemed to be par for the course there, directly through Gibraltar and now here we are, beautiful sunny Spanish day and life is easy.”
“It feels good to be here, it feels like we are back at home almost. I spent a month here this summer and then was here a lot before over the last few years. It is starting to feel more and more real. I think we are going to have a little bit of work on the boat, we have a fair amount of publicity stuff to do and then hopefully then just chill out and get ready to leave. I am sure the next three weeks are going to fly by and feel like five minutes.”
“ Everything is in pretty good shape, we are getting everything finished and tied down we need, and one or two things to finish and the boat is more or less ready.”
“ We came down here with the two of us, my wife Nicola, Boris’ best friend Julian and one of our shore crew Jan. We are all well rested, the last few days there has not been much breeze so we are rested, but this morning we was beautiful and we had 30 knots and the kite up.”
Boris Hermann (GER) added:
“ It was a good last training and testing, we were pushing quite hard. This morning we had 34 knots with the kite and full main and flat water which is a nice way to come into Barcelona, it was warn and lovely. I was not expecting this and a very nice contrast to when we left. I am happy we are here and it all went well on the delivery and we do not have any doubts with the boat, it is all good. The plan now is to have a quick beer, some food and get into the work list which is about 60 little things, nothing big, but certainly everything can be ready in one week.”
PRÉSIDENT
Jean Le Cam and Bruno Garcia arrived in Barcelona this afternoon aboard Président after a constructive, straightforward delivery from Port-la-Forêt which allowed the Franco-Spanish duo a great opportunity to work on their partnership and learn more about the powerful Owen-Clarke designed IMOCA Open 60 which led the last Vendée Globe and finished third in the last Transat Jacques Vabre as Ecover 3.
The duo were accompanied on the passage by Figaro winner Nicolas Lunven (FRA), but made an unscheduled, brief stop in Cartagena to allow Garcia’s brother Willy – also a successful former Figaro sailor – the chance to sail the final stretch from Murcia to Barcelona.
Jean Le Cam (FRA):
“The delivery went really well in a good variation of conditions, it was a perfect mix really. We were downwind with strong winds, we were upwind with strong winds, we had light and variable winds, we had up to 35-38 knots upwind.
The boat appears to be well set up, there are no problems really in particular.”
“ It went super well with Bruno, very good. It is great to have a Franco-Spanish duo on an English boat, it is a great mix. Perfect.”
“Nicolas has been working with us on preparing the boat, especially on the computers and the nav systems, and the general preparations especially.”
“We have a lot of little things to do before the start, we have to change some of the riggings as we planned, just little things.”
“But it is great to be here, it is so cool to be here in Barcelona again.”
Bruno Garcia (ESP):
“It was very good because we had so many different conditions, for me that was what we needed. But in fact we some things to do with the boat and some things we had to make decisions about, and sort out and now there are some things we don’t need to do.”
“ It was a difficult to get up to Nantes for the departure, very sudden. So for example the family car was in the garage, but happily these things worked out and I got the flight by one minute.”
“When we left it was 2 degrees but with nice downwind conditions, strong downwind to Finisterre with some squalls and then off Portugal we had to start beating, and then beating off Gibraltar still.”
“We stopped in Cartagena to pick up my brother Willy because we have always sailed together and it was the least I can do that, a good chance and Jean was really good with that.”
From Barcelona World Race
