New York Barcelona - Throwing down the gauntlet

by NY-BCN Transoceanic Sailing Record Media Centre on 23 Apr 2010 The sailing record between New York and Barcelona has been set at 12 days, 06 hours, 03 minutes and 48 seconds. Alex Pella, Pepe Ribes and Stan Schreyer, Estrella Damm’s co- skippers opened a new chapter in the history of sailing records when they became the fastest crew to go from New York to Barcelona by sailboat. Now there is an official record set, a time set by three men and a cutting edge ocean racing boat to beat. And having been inspired by the challenge the records set, crossing the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it must surely only be a matter of time before another crew or individual rises to the challenge. It is only human nature!

The six co-skippers who participated in the New York-Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record enjoyed a relaxing, entertaining press conference. And while there was many smiles and a warm rapport between the two trios who, only hours ago, were adversaries on the oceans, all agreed fundamentally that it is important for ocean sailing to create inspiring initiatives such as this one, and they underlined the important developmental role that the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona (FNOB: Barcelona Foundation for Offshore Sailing) is playing.

'It was fantastic being part of this competition. There is a whole structure behind the record. There is a large team composed of people who love their work and it shows. At all times I felt I was part of a great team and a group of sailors who were preparing a competition,” Stan Schreyer recalled.

And his American compatriot Peter Becker went a step further: 'It is evident that the FNOB is creating changes in the world of ocean sailing, raising the level. It was an honor for me to be involved.'

After briefly highlighting some of the technical aspects, the sailors agreed that both teams will draw important conclusions from the record. They also emphasized the value of setting a meaningful mark, one that will represent a real challenge.

'I can’t help but wonder what might happen if you choose the ideal season to try and beat the record and have time to wait one or two months, waiting for the best weather window,' mused Ribes.

To which his teammate Pella added: 'I think in the Atlantic passage time can be improved, but no more than a few hours. But where we can lower the mark is in the Mediterranean. We took more than three days, and it took eight hours were for the last 20 miles. When we came back across from Costa Rica from the Transat Jacques Vabre it took a day and a half to sail from Tarifa to Barcelona.“

Fully relaxed, the three record holders finished on a humorous note.

'It is clear that to sail the Atlantic has no comparison with the Mediterranean. The North Atlantic offers the same type of challenge as the Pacific or Indian Oceans but without feeling so alone and cut off from the world. But, the Mediterranean allowed my cousin to come to greet me when I passed in front of Benissa, my home town!” said Ribes prompting laughter from the audience. 'True,' said Pella, “And at no ocean race yet have I had my parents come on their own boat to see the finish, as happened yesterday.'

But Schreyer topped his Spanish counterparts, when he was asked how long he had thought it would take: 'I thought it would take 18 to 20 days and that’s what I told my wife. She seems very happy that we took only 12. Mostly because I can be home a week early!'