Barcelona was eagerly awaiting "Mutua Madrileña"’s arrival in the city’s port at around 20:00 this evening, but ESP-4 is keeping her fans waiting. The reason for the delay is that the Spanish entry got caught in a pocket where the little wind there was came straight at them, preventing the duo from advancing any faster than 5 knots.
Hours later it looked like "Mutua Madrileña" was back on track as she sailed at the height of the Eastern Spanish regions of Castellón and Tarragona at 8 knots.
Even so, it was a speedy although tough night for the team and for the boat sailing under the joint flags of the Sanxenxo and Barcelona Royal yacht clubs, with easterlies coming in at around 20-25 knots. The crew on the Spanish Insurance company’s boat have performed many sail changes since they crossed the Gibraltar Straits last Saturday, sailing with three reefs and a staysail. Needless to say the Spaniards onboard are exhausted. "We’re shattered, as it was a really tough sail through the Straits", commented "Bubi" Sansó this morning.
It’s the final sprint and both skippers are eager for the moment they cross the finish line to arrive: "We’re both calm, but we’re really looking forward to finishing. We’re savouring every moment now, and we’re enjoying thinking about what we’ve been through up till now." It’s also worth noting that "Mutua Madrileña" is the only entry of the nine that set off from Barcelona on November 11th in which both skippers have never completed a circumnavigation of the globe.
Currently "Mutua Madrileña" is forecasted to cross the finish line at Barcleona’s Port Olimpic at around 24:00 local time (GMT+1) tonight. Once "Bubi" and Pachi have officially finished the Barcelona World Race they’ll head to the area of the city’s port known as the ‘Muelle de las Atarazanas’, opposite Barcelona’s legendary statue of Christopher Columbus, where local authorities and fans will be there to receive them. The duo will then be giving a press conference.
Day 100 – 16:00 GMT
Position/Boat/Skippers (Nationality)/Distance from leaders
1º Paprec Virbac 2, Dick (FRA)/Foxall (IRL), finished.
2º Hugo Boss, Thomson (GBR)/Cape (AUS), finished.
3º Temenos 2, Wavre (SUI)/Paret (FRA), finished.
4º MUTUA MADRILEÑA, Rivero (ESP)/Sansó (ESP), 70 miles
5º EDUCACIÓN SIN FRONTERAS, Escoffier (FRA)/Bargués (ESP), 1,381 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