All set for the official GP42 Global Cup training day

[Source: GP42 Global Cup] The GP42 Global Cup official programme of activities commences on Tuesday in Puerto Calero with the official training day. Racing will start in Lanzarote on Wednesday 14th and run through to Saturday 17th. On Monday afternoon the eight boats that have confirmed entry were all moored in the Puerto Calero marina.

The GP42 Global Cup, organised by Puerto Calero and World Sailing Management will take place in Lanzarote. Eight teams from five countries will take part in the event which is considered to be the World Championship for the GP42 Class.

Three Spanish teams, two Italians, one Portuguese, a Swedish and British team make up the fleet. The Spanish contingency is led by the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit champion in the GP42 Series, Islas Canarias Puerto Calero, owned by José Antonio Calero (ESP) and skippered by José María Ponce (ESP); Caser Endesa (ESP) owned by Javier Goizueta (ESP), with Juanlu Páez (ESP) at the helm, and Turismo Madrid (ESP) owned by Olympic champion sailor, José María van der Ploeg (ESP).

Two teams sail under the Italy flag; Roma (ITA) owned by Filippo Farufini (ITA) and Airis (ITA) owned by Roberto Monti (ITA). The Portuguese entry, Quebramar Xacobeo 2010 (POR) owned by Gonçalo Esteves (POR) counts with the Spanish Felipe Regojo (ESP) at the helm.

Finally, two new campaigns make their debut in the GP42 fleet: the British entry, Península Petroleum (GBR) owned by John Bassadone (GBR), with Spanish sailing star Iñaki Castañer (ESP) on board and the Swedish Team Nordic (SWE), helmed by Magnus Olsson (SWE), a person familiar to Puerto Calero as Ericsson 3 Round the World Race helmsman.

The different teams have been training off the Lanzarote coastline today in preparation for the start of the competition. The Official Training Race is set to start from 14:00. Competition starts proper on Wednesday with windward-leeward courses. Racing in the GP42 Global Cup concludes next Saturday.

José María Calero, owner of Islas Canarias Puerto Calero explains today “we have been out trying in approximately 15 knots of breeze and had up to 17 knots. Since Cartagena we have sailed on another team boat, an RC44, but today we have really found out GP42 in shape. We are looking forward to competing once again and doing it at home as best we can.”