Barcelona World Race 2007-2008

Barcelona World Race 2007

www.barcelonaworldrace.com - Übersicht

19.10.2007
Estrella Damm
Visit Official Estrella Damm site'> http://www.estrelladamm.es/idiomas/idiomas.asp

ESTRELLA DAMM MAKES FINAL CHANGES BEFORE THE START OF THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE

On 14 September Open 60 Estrella Damm, leaves Barcelona as she starts off on the final leg of her qualifying passage for the Barcelona World Race.

With only three weeks until the start of the Barcelona World Race (11 November) the Estrella Damm Sailing Team are hard at work, putting the final touches on the Open 60 before sailors Guillermo Altadill and Jonathan McKee set off on the 25,000 mile, open-ocean challenge.

With the days and hours quickly ticking by the team is leaving no stone unturned in their approach to race preparation and with over three months of racing looming on the horizon, the shore team have put in just over the same amount of time renewing, optimising and improving the bright red IMOCA 60 monohull since the boat went into the water in June. For every day that Guillermo and Jonathan will race the boat, the same amount of time will have been put into ensuring that she too is ready for the challenge to come. Jonathan McKee explains, "Our biggest focus is strengthening any part of the equipment that could be prone to breakdown during our three months at sea. We feel that if we can finish the race with all our gear intact, we have a chance for a podium finish, so the whole team is working hard on reliability. The guys are putting in some long hours, and recently we brought in some reinforcements, but the spirit is good and each day the boat gets better. It is just a race against time, with the start just weeks away now!"

Guillermo Altadill agrees. "If this was the Volvo Ocean Race, we would do a complete check after each leg (three weeks) and would repair the small problems, but this race is not going to forgive us any mistakes, especially in the Southern Ocean. So reliability is the most important word!"

In recent weeks the boat has been fitted with new spreaders on the mast and a new system employed for the lifting rudders. In addition, the boat has also been supplied with a new communication system including a newly designed and easy to use video conferencing system, telecommunications and a webcam to help the sailors stay in touch with the Race Office and their shore team and to help the public follow the two sailors around the globe.

"The boat is almost ready for the race," Altadill continues. "You want to have at least two months to get a boat ready for a long-distance race like this so that the boat is in the best possible condition for the trip. I believe that we are where we hoped to be two months ago and the best thing is that we still have three weeks to keep improving the boat. From the beginning we had trouble with the electrical system that drives the keel and we are now confident that this is a problem of the past. We have dedicated ourselves to making sure that we have a boat that will stand up to the challenge and that can win the race."

While boat preparation is important, the training done on board is also fundamental to the success of crossing the finish line in one piece and in a top place. Altadill and McKee have already completed 4,000 miles sailing together on board Estrella Damm, further solidifying the foundations of a successful campaign. McKee recognises that time spent testing the boat in her natural environment also plays a huge role in the success of the campaign. "Guillermo and I have also been preparing in other areas. We have been working on our navigation; improving the tools we have onboard, talking to other experienced guys, and reviewing relevant literature. It is a crucial part of the race and one we hope to be strong in. There is also an incredible amount of logistics and preparation in other areas, from packing food to making spares lists to staying in good physical condition. We have sailed for a few days to test equipment, but primarily we have tried to keep Estrella Damm ashore so the team can keep working on her. Guillermo and I feel really good about the progress we have made in recent weeks, thanks to our excellent team, and we are enjoying the opportunity to prepare for this amazing adventure."

Over the next week Altadill and McKee will sail up the coast from Barcelona to Gerona where they will take a medical course hosted by Fernando Munoz, a doctor and ocean sailor, where they will learn to solve any possible medical emergencies common to extreme navigations typical to the one they are about to embark on. Estrella Damm will then return to Barcelona where Custo, Barcelona's talented young fashion designer who is responsible for the striking graphic design of the pattern of flowers and stars on the sails and hull, will join the two skippers for a sail.

For further information about the Estrella Damm Sailing Team, please contact:
Natalia Kim (Spanish) Mobile: (+34) 608-59 50 10 Skype: nataliakim
http://www.damm.es http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.damm.es