It’s been 92 days since "Mutua Madrileña" left Barcelona. Pachi Rivero and "Bubi" Sansó left the Catalan capital hoping to do their first circumnavigation of the globe, and hoping to complete the Barcelona World Race. Every day that passes the Spaniards are one step closer to exceeding their own expectations. For 35 days now the Spanish entry has been embroiled in a fierce battle for a place on the regatta podium, and although bronze seems to have slipped further away these last few days, the fat lady definitely hasn’t hit the stage yet.

"Mutua Madrileña"’s maximum rivals have had another fast night. "Temenos 2" managed to get onboard some low pressure that meant they registered speeds of 12-13 knots, also notching up the fastest speeds in this round the world fleet for the past 24 hours. Meanwhile Bubi and Pachi covered 234 miles (433 km) and took second place rankings for the distance covered for the same 24-hour period.

The duel with "Temenos 2", now 247 miles (457 km) in front of ESP-4, hasn’t finished and the Franco-Swiss crew are well aware of that. Although they’re a bit more relaxed now, they know they have to watch out for "Mutua Madrileña" because, as Michèle Paret pointed out today, and Bubi mentioned a few days ago "this isn’t over until you cross that finish line". Also the climb up the Mediterranean is an extra special touch to this Barcelona World Race, and experience in these waters could prove an advantage for the Spanish duo.

Latest calculations by the "Mutua Madrileña" crew indicate that the boat sailing under the joint flag of the Sanxenxo and Barcelona Royal Yacht Club could reach the Catalan capital, and home soil between Sunday 17^th and Tuesday 19^th February.

Day 92 – 16:00 GMT

Position/Boat/Skippers (Nationality)/Distance from leaders

 

1º Paprec Virbac 2, Dick (FRA)/Foxall (IRL), 268 miles from Barcelona

2º Hugo Boss, Thomson (GBR)/Cape (AUS), +312

3º Temenos 2, Wavre (SUI)/Paret (FRA), +1,151

4º MUTUA MADRILEÑA, Rivero (ESP)/Sansó (ESP), +1,398

5º EDUCACIÓN SIN FRONTERAS, Escoffier (FRA)/Bargués (ESP), +2,692

    Veolia Environnement, Jourdain (FRA)/Nélias (FRA), retired

    Estrella Damm, Altadill (ESP)/McKee (USA), retired

    Delta Dore, Beyou (FRA)/Gavignet (FRA), retired

    PRB, Riou (FRA)/Josse (FRA), retired