H.R.H Cristina christens Mutua Madrileña boat

[Source: Mutua Madrileña] HRH Cristina of Spain has been named ‘Godmother’ to the Spanish entry "Mutua Madrileña" in the Barcelona World Race, the only all Spanish team taking part in the regatta which kicks off on November 11th on a round the world non-stop course. Almost 500 people attended the boat’s official launch in Barcelona’s port, where the race is due to start from next month.

The Royal Princess was joined at the event byJosé María Ramírez Pomatta, Spanish company Mutua Madrileña’s President; Pere Alcober, Sports delegate for Barcelona council, Jordi Valls, Director of the Port of Barcelona and Enrique Puig, President of Barcelona’s Royal Yacht Club, the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.

The Spanish entry is 60 foot (18.28 metres) long, with a 19-foot (5.8 metre) beam and weighs 8.5 tonnes. The boat has a maximum draught of 4.5 metres and the maximum sail area is 600 m2. "Mutua Madrileña" will sail with the Spanish flags of the Barcelona and Sanxenxo (Galicia) Royal Yacht Clubs.

"Mutua Madrileña" is an Imoca Open 60 with two Spanish skippers, Javier Sansó and Francisco Rivero, who’ll be looking to break some circumnavigation records in this race. Only one Spaniard, José Luis Ugarte, has completed a non-stop circumnavigation of the world, so this race could signal a shift in Spanish sailing history, in a competition usually dominated by the French.

Designed by Owen Clarke Design, and built in New Zealand in 2003, "Mutua Madrileña" was 6th in the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2007, 5th in the Prologue of the Barcelona World Race, 3rd in the 2005 Vendée Globe (Ecover) and overall winner in the 2004 Transat (Ecover).