Two of international sailing’s leading institutions, The Real Club Náutico Barcelona (Barcelona’s royal yacht club) and the New York Yacht Club, will work together on the NY-BCN Transoceanic Sailing Record, a recently announced international sailing race aimed at setting a world record between New York and Barcelona in April 2010.
Both yacht clubs will bring their extensive knowledge and logistic capabilities to the project, aiming to strengthen the cultural, sporting and educational ties between New York City and Barcelona.
The NY-BCN Transoceanic Sailing Record marks the first speed record between an American and a Mediterranean port. This record will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), an international organization established by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the governing body for the sport of sailing.
Joan Mir, President of the Real Club Náutico Barcelona, stated: “We are pleased to work with our partners – the New York Yacht Club, along with the FNOB and New York City Sports Commission – to support and foster international sailing challenges of the highest caliber. The New York Yacht Club has an extensive history in the field of competitive sailing, and our club has over 130 years of experience organizing world-class sailing events. I believe there is a total synergy between us which heralds an exceptional event”.
David K. Elwell Jr., commodore of the New York Yacht Club, commented: “We invited Real Club Náutico Barcelona to take part in the 2009 NYYC Invitational Cup for exceptional Corinthian sailing with international competitors. We are delighted it led to this collaboration. The NY-BCN Record will showcase New York City and Barcelona as global sailing venues”. Robert C. Towse Jr., vice commodore of the New York Yacht Club and responsible for directing the Club's on-the-water activities stated, “Our Race Committee looks forward to starting this race in New York Harbor. U.S. and Spanish sailors will together race identical ocean racing yachts”.
The city of New York will serve as the backdrop for the start of the challenge between the yachts, Estrella Damm and W Hotels, two IMOCA Open 60s that will make this ocean-racing feat a thrilling battle of equals. With three sailors from both sides of the Atlantic on each boat, the crews will depart the second week of April 2010, hoping to reach Barcelona between the 20th and 30th of April. The competition will last between 18 and 22 days, covering approximately 3,900 nautical miles (7,233 km).
Real Club Náutico de Barcelona
www.rcnb.com
New York Yacht Club
www.nyyc.org