It is four days before the start of the Europa Warm’Up an exciting new IMOCA Open 60 contest which is designed – as it says – to be a useful warm up for this winter’s solo round the world class, the Vendée Globe. Seven of the most competitive IMOCA Open 60’s have mustered in Barcelona’s marina at the foot of the renowned Ramblas, with the iconic statue of Christopher Columbus looking over them. The race comprises two very different stages which together will form a valuable training regime as they skippers count down the days towards the Vendée Globe.
Interview with the Europa Warm’Up race director, Jacques Caraës.
The first leg between Barcelona and Cascais is quite short, at about 900 miles, and will be raced with a crew. Why this choice?
Jacques Caraës: "The idea is to allow these competitors who are working towards the Vendée Globe an opportunity for their technical teams to get a first hand insight into the state and performance of their boats at this stage and for some to invite sailors on board who might add a different perspective on set ups or perhaps how the boat. Together these form and opportunity refine and to validate their final technical choices in ‘race mode’. This first stage, albeit short, will not necessarily be easy. The calms in the Mediterranean and the Alboran Sea are usual, and of course the Straits of Gibraltar can be a dangerous passage. Depending on conditions the fleet may take three to five days to arrive in Cascais, at the mouth of the Tagus. And even these last mile can be complicated, especially when the prevailing northerly winds are settled over the area ... "
For the second step, why change the format so radically?
Jacques Caraës: "For two main reasons. First, it's solo and the Vendée Globe is solo and second we set a course a course that is similar to the reality of deep ocean racing with a first course mark will be the island of Santa Maria in the southeast of the Azores, then the Fastnet Rock to pass, at the southern tip of the west of Ireland. In total that is pretty much the equivalent of a 2300 miles transatlantic race or 3700 km all on a course very carefully selected, because there will be important weather transitions to play, between the Azores and the varying, unsettled wind regimes that can prevail in the Irish Sea. So the sailors must be good boat to boat tacticians, good weather analysts and make their boats go fast all the time. I think the race will be exciting. "
This race is eagerly awaited by the skippers and crews?
Jacques Caraës: "That is clear. And if there is one thing, we have not compromised, it is the challenges or interests on the course. For sailors, it is essential to be able to calibrate their boats, to measure against each other in real race conditions. This is what will provide the Europa Warm'up with two stages which are very different in style and nature."
A word on the form book?
Jacques Caraës: "Of the seven boats present, six are really designed completely towards the Vendee Globe 2012. And so I think we can safely say we have most of the favourites for the Vendée Globe here competing on this race. Jean-Pierre Dick, Vincent Riou and Armel Le Cléac'h might be what some would consider favourites, but the likes of Bernard Stamm, François Gabart, Javier Sansó or Kito de Pavant. Difficult will be out to prove themselves against the form book and really given the quality of the field it is hard to identify a favorite. But one thing is certain: whoever wins the Europa Warm'up garners a little more confidence for when they start the Vendée Globe "
The program
Barcelona (Spain)
Boats mustered from May 14 to 19
Exhibition Race - CHRONO W HOTEL: Friday, May 18
Race Start: Saturday, May 19
Lisboa-Cascais (Portugal)
ETA boats: between Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23
Exhibition Race - CHRONO CASCAIS: Friday, May 25
Race Start: Saturday, May 26
La Rochelle (France)
ETA boats: between 5 and 6 June
Exhibition Race - CHRONO LA ROCHELLE: Friday, June 8
Awards: Saturday, June 9
The challengers
1- Acciona / Javier Sanso (ESP)
2- Banque Populaire / Armel Le Cleac’h (FRA)
3- Cheminées Poujoulat / Bernard Stamm (SUI)
4- PRB / Vincent Riou (FRA)
5- MACIF / François Gabart (FRA)
6- Groupe Bel / Kito de Pavant (FRA)
7- Virbac-Paprec 3 / Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA)
From : Europa Warm Up
Credit : Europa Warm Up
Interview with the Europa Warm’Up race director, Jacques Caraës.
The first leg between Barcelona and Cascais is quite short, at about 900 miles, and will be raced with a crew. Why this choice?
Jacques Caraës: "The idea is to allow these competitors who are working towards the Vendée Globe an opportunity for their technical teams to get a first hand insight into the state and performance of their boats at this stage and for some to invite sailors on board who might add a different perspective on set ups or perhaps how the boat. Together these form and opportunity refine and to validate their final technical choices in ‘race mode’. This first stage, albeit short, will not necessarily be easy. The calms in the Mediterranean and the Alboran Sea are usual, and of course the Straits of Gibraltar can be a dangerous passage. Depending on conditions the fleet may take three to five days to arrive in Cascais, at the mouth of the Tagus. And even these last mile can be complicated, especially when the prevailing northerly winds are settled over the area ... "
For the second step, why change the format so radically?
Jacques Caraës: "For two main reasons. First, it's solo and the Vendée Globe is solo and second we set a course a course that is similar to the reality of deep ocean racing with a first course mark will be the island of Santa Maria in the southeast of the Azores, then the Fastnet Rock to pass, at the southern tip of the west of Ireland. In total that is pretty much the equivalent of a 2300 miles transatlantic race or 3700 km all on a course very carefully selected, because there will be important weather transitions to play, between the Azores and the varying, unsettled wind regimes that can prevail in the Irish Sea. So the sailors must be good boat to boat tacticians, good weather analysts and make their boats go fast all the time. I think the race will be exciting. "
This race is eagerly awaited by the skippers and crews?
Jacques Caraës: "That is clear. And if there is one thing, we have not compromised, it is the challenges or interests on the course. For sailors, it is essential to be able to calibrate their boats, to measure against each other in real race conditions. This is what will provide the Europa Warm'up with two stages which are very different in style and nature."
A word on the form book?
Jacques Caraës: "Of the seven boats present, six are really designed completely towards the Vendee Globe 2012. And so I think we can safely say we have most of the favourites for the Vendée Globe here competing on this race. Jean-Pierre Dick, Vincent Riou and Armel Le Cléac'h might be what some would consider favourites, but the likes of Bernard Stamm, François Gabart, Javier Sansó or Kito de Pavant. Difficult will be out to prove themselves against the form book and really given the quality of the field it is hard to identify a favorite. But one thing is certain: whoever wins the Europa Warm'up garners a little more confidence for when they start the Vendée Globe "
The program
Barcelona (Spain)
Boats mustered from May 14 to 19
Exhibition Race - CHRONO W HOTEL: Friday, May 18
Race Start: Saturday, May 19
Lisboa-Cascais (Portugal)
ETA boats: between Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23
Exhibition Race - CHRONO CASCAIS: Friday, May 25
Race Start: Saturday, May 26
La Rochelle (France)
ETA boats: between 5 and 6 June
Exhibition Race - CHRONO LA ROCHELLE: Friday, June 8
Awards: Saturday, June 9
The challengers
1- Acciona / Javier Sanso (ESP)
2- Banque Populaire / Armel Le Cleac’h (FRA)
3- Cheminées Poujoulat / Bernard Stamm (SUI)
4- PRB / Vincent Riou (FRA)
5- MACIF / François Gabart (FRA)
6- Groupe Bel / Kito de Pavant (FRA)
7- Virbac-Paprec 3 / Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA)
From : Europa Warm Up
