Barcelona World Race 2007 www.barcelonaworldrace.com - Übersicht 11.11.2007 Estrella Damm AND THEY'RE OFF: ESTRELLA DAMM EMBARKS ON THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE Today in light winds and November sunshine, Estrella Damm skippers Guillermo Altadill and Jonathan McKee, finally eased their IMOCA Open 60 away from land and over the start line of the Barcelona World Race, officially ticking off the first miles of their 25,000 mile, non-stop, circumnavigation of the globe. In an atmosphere heavy with emotion, they bid farewell to their wives and young children, then cast off the pontoon just before 1030 local time. "I'm really looking forward to just getting out there and doing it," an emotional but excited Jonathan McKee explained. "Once on the water things will be more simple...I've been mentally preparing for saying goodbye to the family for quite a while so everyone was ready for it, but it has not been easy." Exiting through the Olympic Port of Barcelona into 10 knots of southerly breeze and accompanied by their shore team who have worked tirelessly to get the boat ready for the adventure to come, the two skippers fell into a procession with the other eight competing teams and eased their way towards the start area as the watching crowd, who had gathered along the quay, cheered them on and waved goodbye. An hour before the start the boat, surrounded by spectators had full sails up and was cruising along. Forty minutes later the shore team said their goodbyes and stepped off the Estrella Damm decks for the last time leaving Guillermo and Jonathan alone on the boat. At 1300 hours local time, with over 600 boats watching, Estrella Damm accompanied by eight other IMOCA Open 60's crossed the start-line confidently, with good speed, flying her gennaker. Estrella Damm at the start © Vinvent Curutchet/ DPPI/ Barcelona World Race Estrella Damm moments before slipping her lines © Vinvent Curutchet/ DPPI/ Barcelona World Race Delta Dore Crew J.Beyou/S.Gavignet Sailing Team Manager Charles Darbyshie watched the boat start with the Estrella Damm shore crew. "It's great to see them get this race underway. Some of the guys have seen more of the boat than they have their wives and families during the last few months, so to watch her sail off with Guillermo and Jonathan on board was a bit emotional and a real triumph. While this is the end of our preparation phase, this is just the start of what will be a very long race. We'll be in close contact with the sailors through the entire experience. We've got the whole race to get through now, so there's plenty more action to come!" Guillermo and Jonathan will now spend the next three months pushing the boat to the maximum, sailing as fast as possible was they sail around the globe through the some of the world's most hostile conditions. For further information about the Estrella Damm Sailing Team, please contact: Natalia Kim (Spanish) Mobile: (+34) 608-59 50 10 http://www.damm.es http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.damm.es Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE