Vuelta España a Vela - The French elite among a Spanish armada

by Vuelta a España a Vela on 9 Jun 2010 Vuelta España a Vela saw two of the top French IMOCA Open 60 skippers, their respective teams and their boats be the first to arrive in Hondarribia to get ready for the event.

Looking just half a mile across the Bidasoa river you see France, home land of PRB’s Vincent Riou and Safran’s Marc Guillemot but it is indicative of the two skippers’ shared desire to maximize their racing miles with their respective IMOCA Open 60’s – Riou with his new VPLP/Verdier design and Guillemot with his recently updated, lightened Safran that they have chosen to come to Spain to compete against the best of the fast improving, extremely hard working Spanish fleet.

It’s a two way street.

For the Spanish crews the French will be a benchmark in every respect, not just in boat speed and handling but seeing up close how the successful French teams work over a prolonged, demanding race comprising short sprint legs as well as longer offshore legs.

The two French skippers, Riou and Guillemot are proven as among the best in the world.

Riou won the 2004-5 Vendée Globe and was among the vanguard of the 2008-9 Vendée Globe race until he was dismasted after rescuing Jean Le Cam off Cape Horn.

This Vuelta España a Vela race will see Riou and Le Cam re-united on board an IMOCA Open 60, forging a formidable racing partnership at the heart of the PRB team over the 1730 miles, six stages course.

Marc Guillemot’s Safran has been refitted since taking winning 2009’s extremely tough Transat Jacques Vabre. He teams back up with Charles Caudrelier-Bénac with whom he triumphed and took second place in the TJV on their debut in 2007.

The two French designs are hull-sisterships but Riou has opted for a steel fabricated keel instead of the carbon one which Safran uses. While Guillemot’s rig on Safran is a classic low profile light-weight section, Riou has stuck by the deck spreader wing rig and has a different deck profile on the new PRB, especially around the coach roof.

Safran was remodeled around the coach roof too during her recent refit in which the emphasis was placed on reducing weight, concentrating it more towards the centre of the boat.

'We wanted to join the Spanish boats in this new race,' confirms Safran’s Marc Guillemot. 'There were two main reasons behind this decision: the first because it allows us to face up to a top class line-up over the 1700 miles and six legs of the race, particularly taking into account the presence of the latest 60’ IMOCA to be launched,PRB, which came out of the same mould as Safran. The second reason is linked to our preparation for the Route du Rhum, which is due to begin on 30th October.'

But not all of the French elite will be sizing themselves up against the Spanish IMOCA Open 60 armada. Some from the other side of the border will be helping. Double Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux has played a vital role in the training of the Movistar team of double Olympic medalists Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez whilst North Sails’ Bruno Dubois will sail aboard GAES along with Britain’s Dee Caffari and Spain’s Anna Corbella.

The race will be officially presented at an official press conference tomorrow (Wednesday) at Hondarribia’s Cofradía de Pescadores at the fishing port, when all the skippers are expected to assemble for the first time. Among those authorities presented at the press conference will be Jaime Lissavetzky, Spain’s Secretary of State for Sport. Patxi Mutiloa, Director of Sports for Basque Regional Government and Pere Alcober, President of the FNOB.

Official presentation

The official presentation will be held at 1230hrs on Wednesday 9th June 2010 at the press room in the Cofradía de Pescadores (Brotherhood of Fishermen) at the fishing port of Hondarribia.

Among those in attendance will be;

- IMOCA Open 60 skippers:
• Iker Martínez & Xabi Fernández, MOVISTAR
• Jaume Mumbrú & Cali Sanmartí, PAKEA
• Alex Pella & Pepe Ribes, ESTRELLA DAMM
• Dee Caffari & Anna Corbella, GAES CENTROS AUDITIVOS
• Pachi Rivero, W HOTELS - NOVA BOCANA
• Vincent Riou, PRB
• Marc Guillemot, SAFRAN
• Juan Merediz & Fran Palacio, CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA

- Stakeholders and Authorities Representatives:
• Jaime Lissavetzky, Secretary of State for Sport
• Patxi Mutiloa, Director of Sports for the Basque Regional Government
• Iñaki Arriola, Minister for Housing, Public Works and Transportation for the Basque Regional Government
• Pere Alcober, President of the FNOB (Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing)
• Gerardo Pombo, President of the RFEV (Royal Spanish Sailing Federation)
• Jon Elizalde, Deputy Mayor, Hondarribia City Council
• Rafael Munilla, President of the Basque Sailing Federation
• Peio Olazabal, Director of Sports, Basque Regional Government
• Tomás Sánchez, President of the Hondarribia Yacht Club

Programme:
12:30 Introductions and speeches
13:00 Question and Answer session
13:30 Refreshments

www.fnob.org