“Next Stop Barcelona,” IMOCA Ocean Masters Says


IMOCA Source and Courtesy Boats at NY Race Start June 1st Regatta New York-Barcelonoa

The IMOCA Ocean Masters New York to Barcelona race set sail on June 1st from the city of New York. Five boats took to crossing the entire Atlantic Ocean in the regatta which renovates its route bringing a new World Champion now every two years instead of four. On June 10th IMOCA communicated on the updated positions. The race is expected to reach Barcelona –end line after over 10 days of pure Oceanic open-water Sport Sailing.

IMOCA explains that the renowned circuit NY-Barcelona is based on a “number of world famous oceanic races in which, for several decades. “The sporting endeavours and heroic achievements of its participants have, frequently, turned skippers into superstars,” IMOCA assures.

Boats which sailed are SAFRAN SAILING TEAM which has led the race most of the way, HUGO BOSS striving for second place with TEAM NEUTROGENA, GAES SAILING TEAM and SPIRIT OF HUNGARY.

“The Vendée Globe, Barcelona World Race, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Rolex Fastnet Race...around the world, across the Atlantic, double-handed or solo, ….all of these challenging events attract a strong media following, and huge crowds at start and finish race villages,” IMOCA explains why the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean is legendary in Oceanic Sailing Sports.

At New York boats where kick-started into the waters of the Hudson river by the fire-off of an impressive Howitzer Cannon and a gathering crowd which witnessed the sail boats glide down the river passing Elliot Island and the iconic Statue of Liberty. But the real show for Skippers would be found down the line, into the unpredictable waters of the Atlantic Ocean which sailors described as the “show of nature” in its full splendor.

Sailors racing engaged in cold sailing battles taking hard decisions and adopting strategies to make the most of the prevailing wind and ocean conditions. They faced intense winds at times and slow stops at others, both can be nerve breaking experiences. Whether leading or falling behind nature treated all Regatta racers with the same courtesy. Boats passed through the Gulf Stream -an improbable scenario which includes strange surface water events driven by hot and cold temperatures, slingshot through the Atlantic riding a depression system near Bermuda and even had to navigate their way through an Ice-Box packed with icebergs during the first days. Despite avoiding icebergs the sight of these was inevitable and must have inspired respect.

“These are great boats, you can set them up and let them rip, then just enjoy the ride,” Guillermo of SAFRAN told his crew member with a big smile. “Look, we are going 21 knots with 19 knots of wind!” he added with a chuckle, his smile growing by the minute.

IMOCA 60-foot monohulls are among the fastest modern racing monohulls. Built using composite materials, they are designed to be as light as possible (speed gains) while at the same time being solid enough to withstand the worst conditions you can find when racing on the open seas.

When the race started on June 1st it was HUGO BOSS first to reach the turning point of Ellis Island followed by SAFRAN and GAES holding third in turn just over two minutes ahead of NEUTROGENA, however, days later the positions consolidated differently.

By June 9th and days into open ocean waters, SAFRAN had taken its stable place as a leader of the IMOCA Ocean Masters “devouring miles” at speeds of over 20 knots. IMOCA´s app which allows for real time follow up of race revealed the consequences of the decisions taken by Teams earlier in the Regatta.

On June 10th IMOCA reported a high-speed pursuit mostly for second position between HUGO BOSS and NEUTROGENA. SAFRAN still led the way and GAES fell into last but not least notable position. Of the five boats which started the Regatta only four are expected to reach Barcelona as the SPIRITU OF HUNGARY abandoned the race early.

The new renewed circuit along with the existing VENDEE GLOBE will now alternate every two years over a four year cycle. “A new World Champion will be crowned every two years, at the end of these round the world races, that represent the pinnacle of the series,” IMOCA stated.

“Like lots of sailors who are heading out to sea for a race, I am always keen to leave, and once I have gone, I am always in a hurry to arrive! I would take an oar to scull if we were allowed to!!” Marc Guillemot Skipper of SAFRAN stated in the start line of New York. Crowds in Barcelona are anxious for his words after having crossed the entire Atlantic Ocean and reaching Barcelona.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.