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With two weeks to go to the start of the Barcelona World Race, Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret’s boat was officially christened Mirabaud on Saturday by the Spanish opera singer Ainhoa Arteta.

Mirabaud & Cie, the private bankers, have been involved in sailing for many years, but also in classical music since 2003, in particular supporting the Lauenan Chamber Music Festival at the Mirabaud Concerts  and alongside the London Philharmonia Orchestra. As Antonio Palma, Associate and CEO of Mirabaud explAined, “This christening ceremong has enabled us in this symbolic moment to bring together these two features, which are important to Mirabaud. We are proud and pleased to have the support of Ainhoa Arteta and we hope she will bring some luck to our crew.”

Many supporters of the Franco-Spanish crew and the Spanish opera singer attended the event on the special Barcelona World Race pontoon
© Thierry Martinez / Sea and Co

Ainhoa Arteta trained at the San Sebastian Conservatory. She studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York then began her career at the Palm Beach Opera House in Florida, before becoming one of the leading opera singers in the Iberian Peninsula. "My career has enabled me to enjoy some exceptional experiences and to meet some incredible people like Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret", she declared. "I wish Mirabaud good luck in the amazing adventure."

Mirabaud will be lining up for the start of the non-stop double-handed race around the world on 31st December. After a lot of work and a long period of fine-tuning, Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret are now ready. “This is an important time for us,” declared Wavre at the christening ceremony. “We’re proud to have the support of Mirabaud and to have been able to get ready for this round the world race without any pressure. We ended up in third place in the last edition and we plan to do at least as well this time. I can’t wait to get underway. I’m really pleased, as I feel that we’re perfectly ready.  We’ve got an excellent boat and have got a lot of things going for us.” 

Thanks to the support of Mirabaud, Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret were able to carry out a vast improvement programme on their boat. The keel head has been replaced, while a lot of work has been done to try to improve the balance of the boat – and therefore her performance. A new nav desk has been designed, while a new lighter engine has been fitted in the boat.

Now they only have to put the supplies aboard for three months of sailing and sort out the final little details before casting off on this round the world race, which looks like being very exciting.