BWR 2014 kicks off: from Barcelona to the world!

The Barcelona World Race is already underway. On 31 December last, one of the greatest international challenges - sailing around the world non-stop with a crew of two - set off from Barceloneta beach. The race will go right around the world and back to Barcelona. The city is the starting and finishing point of an event that promises to be more open and competitive than ever before.

This year boats will not have to cross Cook Strait, but will pass south of New Zealand. This is a more direct route that could help to break the current 92-day record for completing the event.

Barcelona, standing with the skippers

The start of the race was a public event. At ten o'clock in the morning the crew members waved goodbye to family, friends, and the public authorities that were present. Toni Tió, President of Barcelona Clúster Nàutic, was able to meet skipper Pepe Ribes, along with Alex Thompson on board the Hugo Boss, who led the regatta. Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias and the "Millennium Woman" - a spectacular 8-metre high structure created by the Fura dels Baus acrobatic group - officially started the race. The participants were accompanied by nearly 500 vessels in the initial phase of the regatta. 23,400 miles, or nearly 43,300 kilometres, lie ahead.

Barcelona has invested a lot of enthusiasm in the BWR. Back in December, thousands of curious visitors came to see the eight IMOCA 60s that were preparing to set off, since the Portal de la Pau jetty, where they were moored, was opened to the public for two weeks. Now we must follow the adventures of these sailors via the Internet and wait a few months for them to return safely to Barcelona. 

​​​​​