The Mayor of Barcelona wishes 'fair winds' to the Barcelona World Race skippers
This morning the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias visited the Race Dock to meet the 16 Barcelona World Race skippers who represent nine different nationalities as they make their final preparations for their eight IMOCA 60s in readiness to start to the 24,000 miles non stop race around the world on December 31st.
Each of the skippers and their respective boats were introduced to the mayor of the Catalan capital who was joined by the deputy mayor Maite Fandos who is the President of the FNOB, and the President of the Port of Barcelona Sixte Cambra.
While they race around the world each of the duos has been charged with a valuable mission, launching a data collection beacon which will monitor different scientific criteria from the world’s oceans, contributing substantially to a number of different UNESCO projects. This morning each of the crews were formally given their respective beacons and received details of ‘their’ research topic.
The duos met with the director of Ocean Sciences Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Luis Valdés, and scientists and representatives of organisations that the Barcelona World Race collaborates with: Albert Palanques, Jordi Salat and Jaume Piera of the Sciences Institute of the Sea (ICM) and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Salvador Borrós the Chemical Institute of Sarria (IQS) and Luigi Ceccaroni of Barcelona Digital Technology Centre (BDigital) and Xavier Torras, director of the We Are Water Foundation.
Each team has were given a graphical information sheet which summarised their corresponding topic. All of the initiatives were originally presented at the 2nd International Conference on Scientific Research which was held a year ago in Barcelona. The teams received identical Argo beacons, each weighing 18 kilos which will allow data to be collected for the projects which facilitate a greater understanding of climate change.
Teams info
Lunven and Soudée on the dockside in Lorient: preparing for a classic north Atlantic passage
Once again La Base marina in Lorient, Brittany – the main home of the IMOCA fleet – is a hive of activity as 33 boats and their skippers prepare for the daunting challenge of the North Atlantic alone.
•••The Ocean Race will return to Genova for European event in 2025
Following the success of ‘The Grand Finale’ in 2023, Genova will be a key stopover for The Ocean Race Europe in 2025.
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