On a direct course to Gibraltar with easterlies blowing and the gap with rival “Temenos 2” narrowing, “Mutua Madrileña” is about to cross the seventh and final scoring gate in the race. At 16:00 GMT the Spanish entry was 74 miles (137 km) from Gibraltar, hoping to pass the rock at around midnight.

The conditions that await “Mutua Madrileña” are not looking favourable with strong swells and gusts of up to 40 knots (some 75 km/h). “We’ll be sticking close to shore. In theory, we should get less wind there, but then we’ll have to move away and we’ll get more. We need to do this calmly, without taking risks”, said Bubi Sansó in today’s videoconference.

In terms of the battle with “Temenos 2” Bubi admits that the forecast isn’t going to make things easy, but says catching up with them is not an impossibility: “If we got a forecast of high pressure or the wind dropped  it would be easier, but with things looking the way they are, it’s tricky. It looks like the wind is going to stay that way practically until Barcelona”. Even so, the Spaniard added “If there’s any chance at all of passing them we’ll grab it. Even though we’re going sensibly we’re not going to sit back and take it easy”.

Family comes firstPachi knew exactly what he was going to say when he was asked what he wanted the team to bring to the boat in the rib when “Mutua Madrileña” approaches Barcelona’s port. “My kids. I want them to bring me my kids… but they mustn’t forget to put life-jackets on them!” joked the Spaniard.

“Bubi” Sansó was less sure. Unlike his teammate, “Bubi” doesn’t have a wife and kids, so he had to have a think about it: “I’m not really sure… maybe a big bottle of champagne or a Coca-Cola”.

“Temenos 2” crosses the Straits

 “Temenos 2” crossed the final scoring gate at Gibraltar at 01:30 GMT. The Franco-Swiss entry took 13 days, 8 hours and 45 minutes to complete the leg between Fernando de Noronha (Brazil) and Gibraltar. As such “Temenos 2” has positioned herself at the top of the rankings for the eighth leg, having beaten both “Paprec Virbac 2” and “Hugo Boss”. Now the duo will have to wait until “Mutua Madrileña” and “Educación Sin Fronteras” have both crossed the Straits to see which entry will officially top the rankings for the penultimate leg in the Barcelona World Race.

Day 97 – 16:00 GMT

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

1 Paprec Virbac 2, Dick (FRA)/Foxall (IRL), finished.

2 Hugo Boss, Thomson (GBR)/Cape (AUS), finished.

3 Temenos 2, Wavre (SUI)/Paret (FRA), 413 miles

4 MUTUA MADRILEÑA, Rivero (ESP)/Sansó (ESP), 590 miles

5 EDUCACIÓN SIN FRONTERAS, Escoffier (FRA)/Bargués (ESP), 2,177 miles

    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