http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com/ Barcelona World Race en-us Tue, 10 Jun 2003 04:00:00 GMT Fri, 9 May 2008 16:53:38 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com//rss/breakingnews.asp OCVision RSS News Generator support@ocvision.com support@ocvision.com Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 17:32:08 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 16:31:39 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 16:07:00 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 14:16:43 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 13:56:45 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 13:18:26 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 11:17:01 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 09:53:14 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Aug 2007 07:34:33 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 18:19:47 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 15:57:01 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 15:29:49 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 14:12:37 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 11:36:04 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 09:56:09 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 09:08:48 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Aug 2007 07:11:46 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 18:31:04 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 18:07:22 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 17:19:23 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 15:58:02 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 14:36:13 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 12:21:58 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 11:30:53 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 10:59:45 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Aug 2007 10:44:30 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Tonight, the boats should be reaching along the English coast, but the really critical part of the race will be towards Land's End, where gale force winds are expected (See weather file in the Latest Images section)]]> 13 Aug 2007 09:16:49 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 11 Aug 2007 16:42:08 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org "We are expecting similar conditions to those seen in the 1979 Fastnet Race with gusts of 50 knots expected on Tuesday," said Andrew Cape. "The current forecast is for 10 knots of westerly breeze at the start so we will be beating until we reach the Scilly Isles. The wind is then due to move round to the north so we will have a fetch to the Fastnet rock and all the way back to Plymouth."]]> 11 Aug 2007 12:28:52 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 10 Aug 2007 11:04:33 GMT+1 Default http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 23 Jul 2007 16:46:08 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 10 Mar 2008 15:26:25 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
A giant 28-metre wide and 9-metre high screen placed on stage will be a key element of the evening, which will focus on two principal visual symbols - an image of the Colombus monument which, at the bottom of the Ramblas, emphasises Barcelona's maritime vocation, and the constant references to the notion of "duo" throughout the show, which will pay tribute to the 9 teams of two who entered the Barcelona World Race.

Music, acrobatics and other surprises will be enjoyed by the audience, who will also see the teams receive the awards they secured during the event. The first three boats - Paprec-Virbac 2, Hugo Boss and Temenos II - will be given a splendid trophy, replicating the sculpture unveiled during the official Race Village opening on the 1st of November, a sculpture signed by the Basque artist Martín Azúa. Every skipper will also be offered a timepiece on which will be engraved the actual time spent at sea during the race.]]> 04 Mar 2008 12:43:27 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 28 Feb 2008 07:07:54 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 27 Feb 2008 22:47:59 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 26 Feb 2008 10:57:12 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org The latest ETA still predicts an arrival on Wednesday night at 22.00 GMT
Yesterday, at 19:15 GMT, Albert Bargués said: ‘We had light north winds during the night. We tacked at 4:15 GMT and we are now sailing upwind on starboard tack, with 6 or 8 knots wind. We expect that we will have less wind in the next hours and then it will shift to the South and we think we’ll be able to get across the Ibiza channel under spinnaker. We will try to arrive in Barcelona by daylight time but it’s very difficult to confirm an eta’.]]> 26 Feb 2008 10:15:23 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Our passage was quite emotional and at last when I made out the lights in Tangiers I realised it was the first sign of life we had seen since the 22nd January when we saw land for the last time rounding the Horn. It was a true return to civilisation with all the cargo ships around us, quite impressive if not a little stressful it is certainly interesting from a navigational point of view. There is still a lot of traffic on the water around us, in fact I have just spoken to a Russian ship! We are going to tack soon and are going to have to adapt to some shifty conditions which will make the approach to Barcelona quite tricky and will be a well-earned arrival! But strategically is proving interesting. I know some people are already making their way to Barcelona and I’m thrilled to think that all roads will meet there! Yet I am also a little nervous about how I am going to feel after 3 months of not touching land. I’m not sure exactly how I am going to feel when we cross the finish line. It is an objective that we are still realising – it has been such a long time for us to be at sea."
]]> 25 Feb 2008 13:48:51 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Servane is now looking at the last few weather reports to see when we are going to tack, we have south easterly winds and are thinking of going closer to the coast to make the most of the thermals coming from the shore. We have just passed Cabo de Gata and have been sailing an easterly heading but will tack to head north to Barcelona, and will be in on Wednesday.
I don’t know exactly how I will feel until I reach the finish line but both Servane and I are really excited about arriving, to think that this race began as an idea with a group of friends, and I am about to get back to my home city after over 100 days on the sea and that is something that is hugely important to me."

]]> 25 Feb 2008 11:04:05 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org For Wednesday 27th February the wind is due to shift south west, then west and will be a very light and variable 5 knots. Current ETA for the finish is Wednesday evening 27th February (21.30 GMT) ]]> 25 Feb 2008 10:09:39 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 25 Feb 2008 08:57:07 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 1. Temenos II, 13 days, 8 hours, 45 minutes
2. Mutua Madrileña, 14 days, 25 minutes
3. Hugo Boss, 14 days, 3 hours, 41 minutes
4. Paprec Virbac 2, 14 days, 22 hours
5. Educación sin Fronteras, 15 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes

The last leg between Gibraltar and Barcelona is yet to be calculated, but is currently held by Temenos II who moved up through the Mediterranean and into the port of Barcelona in 2 days, 16 hours and 39 minutes. To beat this time Albert Bargues and Servane Escoffier would have to cross the finish line early Tuesday evening, which with current weather predictions looks quite unlikely.
]]> 24 Feb 2008 10:51:55 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
“It went very well. It was a very dark night and to start with we were making an exact 90º route thanks to a low which took us in towards Gibraltar and through the middle of the channel – surrounded by cargo ships. The wind then shifted east and we had 25-27 knots at the most. The AIS worked very well, it is an extremely efficient safety tool, and the boat performed perfectly!”

One small occurrence meant a great deal to the Franco-Spanish boat;

“The Air Traffic Control were wonderful. When we identified ourselves as Educación sin Fronteras they sent us a message which really surprised us: “Ah yes, there are two of you! Congratulations Albert and Servane! It was an emotional moment for us and we are really grateful for that.”

Educación sin Fronteras will now be tacking along the coast until Cabo de Gata. They then will approach Ibiza and are awating the latest weather reports to plan the next move.
Spirits on board are high:
“Being in the Mediterranean,” said Albert, “is like being home, although it is a bit grey and chilly…we are nearly there!”
]]> 24 Feb 2008 10:32:43 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org The ETA in Barcelona has now been pushed back to Wednesday evening 27th February.]]> 23 Feb 2008 10:21:45 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Programme 5 in full (shown last Sunday) is also now online - click on ‘Race Documentary’ link in the ‘How to follow’ column on left of homepage ]]> 23 Feb 2008 09:17:38 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org The last two days we have been becalmed and it is a bit disheartening to be in that situation. We were also forced to sail on a bad heading without much choice in the matter and that is quite demoralising. Although we are used to being at the hands of the elements it never gets easier and you do start to think, “what is this? It doesn’t look like we will ever get to Gibraltar at this rate!”
However we are now averaging 12 knots and feeling much more positive. The rigging does indeed move around a lot, and is suffering but we are keeping our eye on it!
]]> 22 Feb 2008 11:05:26 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org I really like it when the day begins, the moon starts to go down and the sun rises, it is a very special moment and the same at night, when the sun sets and the moon rises. The change between day and night is beautiful- all the colours change, the sea and wind change. I like when things are in motion, I prefer things moving and not a routine. It is the same in life. In the big south the light is very beautiful and in the South Atlantic when we came back after the Cape we had a beautiful sunrise and sunset – something really amazing and now it is beautiful too. In the south the light is strange, colours are intense pink and orange, every possible colour you can imagine, but eve now the sunset and sunrise is beautiful here too…
]]> 22 Feb 2008 09:51:50 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
The ETA to Gibraltar is the evening of the 23rd February at midnight/ morning of 24th February with a good 25 knots. Once through the strait the wind is due to decrease to 10 knots and turn North Easterly as the Franco-Spanish team follow the Spanish Coast on a similar route to the rest of the fleet !

On 25th February night and throughout Tuesday 26th February the wind will decrease to the West of Ibiza and the new ETA for arrival in Barcelona is Wednesday morning 27th February.

]]> 22 Feb 2008 09:42:52 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Only 100 miles in the last 24 hours, the approach to Gibraltar is proving to be painfully slow, and ironically at the time when both skippers will more than ever be dreaming of arriving back in Barcelona – now only 900 miles away!

At 0600 GMT Educacion sin Fronteras was 320 miles from the scoring gate and the ETA for the strait has now dropped back to 24th February, with ETA in the Catalan capital now the 27th.

However things look brighter on the horizon, the wind is due to pick up in the next day and shift from east to south east; the boat is currently making 8 knots of boat speed and on an easterly-south easterly heading, but it may will mean that Servane and Albert spend a couple more nights on board than they had bargained for.
]]> 22 Feb 2008 07:58:56 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 21 Feb 2008 10:24:29 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Albert and Servane are due to reach the Straits on night of 23rd February very likely with strong Easterly wind for their crossing, but decreasing in the Alboran sea to become more South westerly 15 knots .
According to current routings they should reach the latitude of Ibiza on the 25th February at night with arrival in Barcelona on the 26th February evening.
]]> 21 Feb 2008 08:08:16 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 20 Feb 2008 12:20:59 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 19 Feb 2008 19:25:06 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 19 Feb 2008 17:32:48 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 18 Feb 2008 18:13:23 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 18 Feb 2008 17:02:43 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org This experience is something really big in my young life, I wanted to sail after my studies but I never thought I could do this just two years after becoming professional. I think I am very lucky, it is a big adventure in sailing - learning every day to sail fast, and with the weather, and also on a human level. 3 months with just one person every day is a new challenge - something very big, and I think it will stay in my memory and it will probably be very important in my future.
I think she is a very good boat, she is an old lady in comparison to the other newer boats but I think she is amazing- she is fast, safe when really windy. Not so fast in lighter winds but it is very important to be confident in your boat and after so many miles the boat is not only a thing she is like a person- like 3 people not 2, as every day you deal with her and sometimes when you cry you speak to her, and I knew this before with my boat in the route du rhum I really felt this sensation but this round time as well. She is not only a thing she is somebody. That is the way it is, it sounds strange but it is like that. It is really special with the sea, however funny or crazy it may sound every day you are in the race you want to arrive, and you do the miles and think of the finish. And every time before you leave the boat, you always feel sad to leave it. The boat takes care of you for all that time. The boat is your home, and your head. I don’t know if I feel proud of myself but I am proud of my boat, she is beautiful- a beautiful woman getting older with experience! She is like a good wine!
]]> 18 Feb 2008 12:27:38 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 18 Feb 2008 12:15:12 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org It’s really great that we were a nightmare for Temenos II! It is so true that we were very close, and we were exactly the same – with another point of view of course but were also checking their positions of the boat all the time. Things have finished as they should and we were very close to giving them a good fright indeed! We have also been obsessed with overtaking them – it has been our main objective, and we came back 1500 miles on the leaders as well. We lost quite a few miles when we were sailing close to South Africa, and Temenos 2 is a newer boat, and we have been reflecting on our decisions throughout the race, after the large loss of 1000 miles in just a few days psychologically that was hard to deal with. Even in the boat we are constantly thinking about how to improve things or our strategy, to see if we could make a briefing when we get back. You can always improve things, always. For me the boat is not just a piece of carbon machine, we have been taking care of it so much – it has been our home, our transport and competition for a long time, we have been maintaining it on all levels – inside and out; we haven’t pushed her too hard, we have really taken care of her, the boat came first even before us.
As a sportsman I have a learnt a lot - there have been a lot of things on a professional level within the IMOCA class and in sight of the Vendee Globe this year, something that is still to be spoken about and looked at in more detail, but of course there are numerous things that you improve that you know how to do better the next time and for the next trip. Things you don’t realise until you actually do the world race yourself maybe they don’t seem it at the start, but later are really important all the same. I don’t know how to explain it but you learn how to evaluate certain things and the next time round solo or double handed I will have improved such a lot.
On a personal level with Pachi I think we have made a really good team we have been very complementary as a team and as friends – 100% involved, and we are very proud of what we have done as we have tried to get the absolute maximum out of the boat. In that sense our conscious is totally clear as we haven’t let our guard down ever. We have never had 12 hours resting – we have been sailing the boat full-on all the way round, have had so many sail changes, we have a record number of sail changes. I also think you must have seen that from outside, we have been very fast. We are very pleased with our performance but I have to say that Dominique and Michele have sailed very well, they have not been easy to cover, have done a great job and it has been our intention to cover the holes, we have been forcing full on and didn’t let go at any time. It has been competitively fantastic - the third place that we wanted, but we are happy with our fourth – next time first place.

]]> 18 Feb 2008 12:13:39 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Mutua Madrileña time is still to be ratified and Educacion sin Fronteras are due to cross later this week.
]]> 18 Feb 2008 09:06:05 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org “We were not thinking about anything other than looking after the boat and ourselves, and then we will start to think about the arrival.”
As the two Spaniards make their way up very familiar coasts and now into calmer conditions they will surely now be visualising the reunion with family and friends in the Port of Barcelona this evening.
“I think I will miss the boat,” admitted Pachi, “I personally want to get back and each race has to come to an end. I want to see my family and friends but I do feel it is a shame, looking around now at the boat and I have to leave it all. We are very satisfied with our race but feel a little bit frustrated not to have caught Temenos II but we are really happy with the way we have sailed.”
Another Spaniard, and Catalan born, Albert Bargues is also longing for home. Along with Servane Escoffier on Educacion sin Fronteras, the team are currently on a latitude with the Canary Islands, a first sense of home waters for Bargues, and 1500 miles from the Catalan capital- just another weeks sailing for the last boat in the Atlantic.
An emotional arrival yesterday evening for third-placed Temenos II who arrived in Barcelona at 18.09 GMT. Their total race was 98 days 6 hours 9 minutes and 10 seconds and an average speed of 10.46 knots covering 27, 603 miles.
]]> 18 Feb 2008 07:43:56 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 17 Feb 2008 17:56:37 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 17 Feb 2008 13:33:51 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 17 Feb 2008 13:07:32 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org It is Sunday and I am ready to cut the lawn! When we are sailing like this it is marvellous, the boat is gliding along in sunshine and now I am going to do some DIY- the tomatoes are also coming out well too! I don’t know yet what is the biggest lesson I have learnt so far. I need time to digest it all, to digest the whole experience – 22 years of my life I have been waiting to do this and there are so many other things involved in this race for me, not just the competition. I need to take my time to absorb it all, to write it all down. I don’t know what I have learnt yet from this, but it will come. I need to understand and take it all in. For me the race is not over when I get back to Barcelona, the experience for me is how I am going to come back down to land. How I am going to feel, how I am going to adapt again, my emotions and feelings in the months afterwards, how I am going to get back into society and be with people again, and all that for me is a big part of the experience.
We have seen some boats but maybe not as many as we expected, we have decided to have our radar connected to detect the activity on the water as we get closer to the straits.


]]> 17 Feb 2008 12:54:02 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org We are feeling better than yesterday, we had a good meal and it was a beautiful night with a big moon. It is really nice as we are getting closer to the canaries in home waters that we know because of races like the transat. I feel better because two days ago I really didn’t know what to decide, and so far we are doing great. We will be thinking about Temenos II arriving tonight.]]> 17 Feb 2008 12:29:55 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Mutua Madrileña is still battling with some harsher conditions on the southern Spanish coast as they make their way towards Cabo de Gata. Bubi and Pachi have had Force 7 strong easterly winds in the Alboran Sea, and consequently have dropped 50 miles overnight to Temenos II, but are more concerned by getting through their current situation:
“We have to get past Cabo de Gata which is a difficult point,” said Pachi yesterday, “At the moment with the gusts of force 7 we are not thinking about anything other than looking after the boat and ourselves, we had gusts of 40 knots and are just thinking about passing Gata. After that we will start to think about the arrival.”
The Spanish boat is 342 miles from Barcelona at 0600 GMT with ETA for tomorrow 18th February at 1800GMT.
Educacion sin Fronteras is still making the most of winds from the low off the Canary Islands and overnight made fantastic progress once again, 314 miles in the last 24 hours, and due to reach the Spanish holiday islands sometime tomorrow. Servane and Albert are already working on their strategy for their passage through Gibraltar – the last boat remaining in the Atlantic may well benefit from lighter conditions when they reach the gate later next week
]]> 16 Feb 2008 18:53:20 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 16 Feb 2008 11:56:14 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org I’m looking at the tactics for the Straits seriously right now, north-north west at the moment to the Canaries, then Gibraltar. I am really looking forward to seeing the people I love back on land and to doing sport, I can really feel the need in my legs. Today I am a little tired – we are going to be careful until the end, especially Gibraltar, and we are trying to learn a lot until we finish. I am thinking about Temenos II and mutual Madrileña arrving, for Michele personally I think this trip has been easier as she is with her husband.
]]> 16 Feb 2008 11:55:59 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org We think we will be in Barcelona in the afternoon. We have 15 knots, the sky is grey, and we had a little sunshine. The wind North Easterly 12 knots, we hope to tack for the last time soon. We don’t have any special requests for arrival, in fact Im going to invite all you guys on board for a freeze-dried meal. I’m not yet thinking like a land-based person except I am thinking about a good shower and bed without someone waking you up! But land customs come back so quickly and you lose the well-being the sea brings you fast. So we are in the race and living it until the finish line!
]]> 16 Feb 2008 11:13:21 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 16 Feb 2008 10:12:08 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Behind them Mutua Madrileña crossed the Gibraltar Scoring gate at 02.10 GMT and continued to gain miles; now just 157 from Temenos II they made a better 24 hour mileage overnight and averaged boat speed of 8-9 knots. The Spanish team is 486m miles from Barcelona and due to arrive on Monday afternoon.
Educacion sin Fronteras had a fantastic days sailing and continues to sail the fastest 24 hours with a good 14 knots boat speed at 21ºN 1500 miles from Gibraltar.
]]> 16 Feb 2008 07:35:45 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Feb 2008 19:50:11 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Educación sin Fronteras has opted to sail upwind and not lose miles despite moving more slowly through the water. They are now 2160 miles from Barcelona, due to reach the Catalan coast on 25th February.
]]> 15 Feb 2008 19:17:26 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 15 Feb 2008 14:07:16 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org The trailer for Programme 5 of ‘The Barcelona World Race’ is now in the video gallery. This next episode will be shown on Channel 4 (UK) on Sunday morning, 17th February at 07.25 GMT, and repeated on More4 at 09.00 GMT (same day).
]]> 15 Feb 2008 14:02:43 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 15 Feb 2008 12:51:23 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Feb 2008 12:41:34 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Feb 2008 11:55:48 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 15 Feb 2008 07:32:49 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Dominique and Michele are the third team to have a harsh entry into the Mediterranean, as the Swiss skipper briefly told us yesterday the conditions were rough and their passage through the chaotic seas of this extremely busy shipping lane was going to be difficult. Temenos II are currently making slow but steady progress through the Alboran Sea and are now under 500 miles from home. Conditions should ease as the swiss-french team make their way north in the Mediterranean, and their ETA is for Sunday 17th at around 1700h GMT.
As the third placed boat battled with the elements Mutua Madrileña was able to drastically reduce their distance behind Temenos II – recovering over 100 miles in 24hours, the Spanish boat, still contending for the final podium position is now just 180 miles behind, and due to reach Gibraltar this evening .Bubi and Pachi are now having to face the big sea swell and easterly winds as the three boats before them – the Straits have certainly not been kind to any of the Barcelona World Race teams so far.
Educación sin Fronteras is 1700 miles from this scoring gate; Albert and Servane already very conscious of the wear and tear on their boat admitted that they were praying for calmer conditions when they reach Gibraltar in about a weeks time.
]]> 15 Feb 2008 07:29:58 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Mutua Madrilena has taken advantage to claw to within 192 miles of Temenos II now, and within 250 miles of the Strait of Gibraltar, but they'll soon face similar conditions.

Educacion sin Fronteras is sailing close to the wind on starboard tack, looking at Gibraltar nearly 1800 miles in the distance. ]]> 14 Feb 2008 18:25:40 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Feb 2008 12:10:22 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 14 Feb 2008 12:03:15 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Now we have some westerly winds, maybe soon south west. We hope Gibraltar will be ok for us. I know that I will have a beer when I get to Barcelona, whatever time we arrive!.
]]> 14 Feb 2008 11:48:31 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Quite a few times in single-handed races ships call you to ask you how you are. I usually ring them and they are usually quite nice. We have a special radar to help us as we go into the Strait. A big ship can’t manoeuvre like we can, because of the waves, they have their route and can’t change their direction, it is quite complicated….
The boat needs a lot of TLC when we get back we will have to get started working again; there is a lot of work to do as the boat is tired. We are busy and concentrated on what we doing, it has withstood some big stress - once a week we make final checks as we go towards the straits, the routine is the same as always, but right now we have very little wind and so minimum strain. We don’t have the same speeds or using the spinnaker and that means we have lowered our rhythm a little.
There are moments when your heart leaps, and in fact we are not going to be calm until we cross finish line. Anything can happen at any moment. Mike Golding lost his keel in the VG just before finishing, we are well aware that anything could happen and we are not letting our guard down. It is very difficult but we want to maintain the same rhythm and so are looking after our material as much as possible. We wont do anything mad or crazy! We will sail as calmly as possible …."
]]> 14 Feb 2008 11:34:59 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Still racing, Temenos II has started to punch through strong headwinds en route to Gibraltar, still some 116 miles away. Behind them, Mutua Madrilena has taken advantage of the adverse conditions ahead to gain 52 miles.

Educacion sin Fronteras is the fastest of the three boats still racing, making 8.5 knots on a heading just west of north.

]]> 14 Feb 2008 07:42:13 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Arrival time: 05:34:57 GMT
Time at sea: 94 days, 17 hours, 34 minutes, 57 seconds
Average speed over the course: 10.85 knots
Actual distance sailed: 28145 nautical miles
Speed over the water: 12.38 knots]]> 14 Feb 2008 05:37:23 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Behind, Temenos II is facing horrific conditions on the approach to Gibraltar as Michele recounted:

"It's horrific. There's a swell of over 2 metres so the seas are very short and are completely braking the boat's heading and preventing it from powering away. It’s the swell that is sending us the E’ly gale, which is blowing to the North of us. From time to time there are trains of waves hitting us one after the other. You see this wall of water rising above you and just behind them the boat slams back down noisily. These are laborious hours and the coming hours are unlikely to be any easier. The swell is already providing us with an idea of the strength of the gale over Gibraltar. The files are forecasting thirty knots, but we’re expecting more than that. It’s a veritable channel where some very large acceleration may occur without being forecast in the weather models. We’ve tidied the interior of the boat and we got out the storm sail this morning. It's strange to prepare for rough weather when you're making less than 5 knots! For the time being we're a long way from the gale. The skies are overcast, the clouds aren’t moving and nor are we. The situation is pretty motionless and it feels like we’ll just have to endure it."

Mutua Madrilena is exactly 1000 miles from the finish, but 286 behind Temenos II, while Educacion sin Fronteras is sailing well, almost directly north at 10 knots.
]]> 13 Feb 2008 18:38:39 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org We are also down to the dregs of the freeze dried food, so real food is another thing I am very much looking forward to when I’m back on land. For Capey, the thought of a nice bit of sushi when we arrive in Barcelona is keeping him going, but for me a little visit to the ‘Golden Arches’ for a cheeseburger is more appealing.
We have not had much time to reflect on the race so far, as we are totally focused on getting to the finish as soon as possible. We damaged our number two headsail a few days ago, which isn’t ideal as it is the perfect sail for the current conditions. Progress is going to be slow and upwind all the way to the finish now, so we need to just keep plugging away. I have started getting emails from my friends and family who will be in Barcelona for the finish, and I am really looking forward to seeing them all. Not long to go now!

]]> 13 Feb 2008 14:33:35 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 13 Feb 2008 14:11:35 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 13 Feb 2008 14:00:21 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org We had two options - after a month of following we got tired of the same situation , we are a slower boat – 15% by design, and it was almost impossible to pass them so we knew we had to do something, not just overtake but leave some space between us so we wouldn’t get caught again. It looked like the easterly was going to pick up and we thought we could tap into that between Africa and the Canaries which was obviously a really risky move, not something we would normally do under any other circumstances. But there was a remote possibility that they might have got stuck in calms and our last chance to make a move before the Strait. We are sailing more downwind now and we might come back a little but they have a good distance over us. That was our last card and we said didn’t care if we lost by 15 or 300 miles! It was really proving hard to catch them we were getting nearer and then they would put the pedal down – it was very difficult we haven’t however given up at all. But now our objective is to make a comeback rather than be able to overtake them.
]]> 13 Feb 2008 13:50:47 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 13 Feb 2008 12:44:30 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 13 Feb 2008 11:56:53 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Feb 2008 11:48:47 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Educacion sin Fronteras is now just over 2000 miles from Gibraltar, steadily making their way north in some light trade winds. Their ETA for Barcelona is 25th-26th February.
]]> 13 Feb 2008 09:01:33 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 13 Feb 2008 07:18:35 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Temenos II continues its fast pace to the east, heading for Gibraltar at over 11 knots, while Mutua Madrilena is falling further behind after spending much of the afternoon at just 6 or 7 knots.

And Educacion sin Fronteras is sailing strongly as well, heading north at 9.3 knots, scheduled to finish around the 25th/26th of February.]]> 12 Feb 2008 18:18:52 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Roland Jourdain, skipper of Veolia Environnement: “I'm really delighted for them! Jean-Luc and I would have liked to fight to the end to finish at their side, but the race decided otherwise. Jean-Pierre and Damian have really done great work. Nothing more can be said! I hope that they willenjoy all the best parts of this fine finish in Barcelona and again, well done for this victory!’’]]> 12 Feb 2008 14:32:01 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Of course now that PV2 has arrived we are thinking about it more, but we have to be careful, we have 2700 miles more to go so we have to be careful with material and everything...but we can arrive, we hope to do it and we will be happy...I’m really happy for them. This is the first time I've spent so long on a boat and it's something really special, but I’ll be really happy to be in BCN and to be with everybody... it's a big adventure, physically, mentally, sportive, and every day I learn something
]]> 12 Feb 2008 11:44:49 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 12 Feb 2008 11:35:27 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ]]> 12 Feb 2008 10:44:40 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org Back in the North Atlantic the match race for third has split a little as Mutua Madrileña slip back a few miles over night to 256 miles behind Temenos II, having opted for a more easterly heading towards the coasts of Africa. As Swiss skipper Dominique Wavre reported they have picked up on a front near to Canaries and currently estimate arrival in Gibraltar for 15th February.
The Spanish tandem once again were the fastest boat on the fleet overnight – 256 miles in 24 hours - and have their sights set on an area of light flukey airs between the Canary Islands and Gibraltar where Pachi Rivero yesterday admitted could be their moment to recover some of the “buffer” between the two.
Educacion sin Fronteras continues to make their way north in light trade winds, at 6º North and just over 2200 miles from Gibraltar, Barcelona-born skipper Albert Bargues yesterday reported them as “excited at the thought of the boats arriving home, happy and far from being hungry!”
]]> 12 Feb 2008 07:28:56 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org
]]> 12 Feb 2008 00:06:42 GMT+1 http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org 12 Feb 2008 00:00:37 GMT+1