09/11/07
http://www.w-w-i.com/barcelona_world_race/
THOMSON AND CAPE GEAR UP FOR ROUND THE WORLD RACE
Barcelona World Race starts this Sunday
British yachtsman Alex Thomson and his Australian co-skipper Andrew Cape are making final preparations before the start of the inaugural Barcelona World Race. The double-handed non-stop race around the world race, the first ever of its kind, starts from Barcelona, Spain at 13:00 CET this Sunday, 11th November. Ahead of the competitors lies a 25,000 nautical mile voyage that will take them through some of the world's most treacherous seas. HUGO BOSS is the only British yacht in the fleet, and Thomson is looking forward to flying the flag for the Brits, alongside eight other world class teams.
HUGO BOSS is a brand new IMOCA 60, the successor to the boat that Alex tragically lost in the Southern Ocean last November, during the Velux 5 Oceans race. The boat's first outing in the Rolex Fastnet Race earlier this year hinted at its obvious potential, as Thomson and Cape finished third in a very competitive Open 60 fleet, just weeks after the Formula 1 racing yacht hit the water. The duo has since been training in Gosport, UK, making minor tweaks to ensure the boat is perfectly tuned for the start in Barcelona.
Alex Thomson commented: "It has been a challenging journey to get to the start here in Barcelona and this will be one of the toughest races any of us have competed in. Capey and I have had a great start to our campaign with a good result in the Rolex Fastnet Race and we are really pleased with HUGO BOSS' performance so far.
Thomson continued: "We are expecting light conditions for the start on Sunday, but during the course of the next three months we will encounter every weather system the gods can throw at us, from flat calms and squalls in the doldrums to gale force winds, hail storms and 50 foot seas in the Southern Ocean. I am looking forward to doing the race with Capey, a truly talented sailor and navigator who I am sure I will learn a lot from."
Andrew Cape commented: "I was really excited when Alex asked me to co-skipper the new HUGO BOSS for the Barcelona World Race. Alex and I work really well together as a team, which is encouraging as we are going to be alone at sea together for three months! This is the first time anyone has sailed double handed non-stop around the world and it will be a tough race with some stiff competition."
The Barcelona World Race will start on Sunday 11th November and will take the nine boat fleet from Barcelona, in the Mediterranean, out through the straights of Gibraltar, down the coast of Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, and around the world in an easterly direction. The fleet is expected to pass Australia around Christmas time, Cape Horn next January and sail back up the Atlantic to the finish in Barcelona in February 2008. The nine boats make up a very competitive fleet and with the experience of 36 round the world races between the 18 skippers, these highly experienced sailors are of the highest class.
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Annabel Merrison - Pitch PR
M: +44 (0)7721 518411
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