Yves Parlier to join Pachi Rivero for the Transat Jacques Vabre

[Source: 1876 Sailing Team] Renowned French offshore sailor Yves Parlier is set to join Pachi Rivero for the Transat Jaques Vabre on board 1876 (the IMOCA Open 60 Estrella Damm in the Barcelona World Race), one of the Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing (FNOB) entries. Parlier is joining the project solely for this transoceanic race, the most important in this year's IMOCA calendar, with 14 monohull entries registered.

With just over two weeks until the start of the Transat Jaques Vabre the team is working on the final preparations to get everything into optimum shape for the Le Havre start on November 8th: "The shore team has done a fantastic job in Lorient over the past few weeks," explained Rivero. "The boat has undergone a great refit and now we have two weeks ahead to get to one hundred percent for the start".

Parlier's presence on board 1876 for the Transat Jaques Vabre will also play a big role in the development and preparation of the boat and the team with a view to the Barcelona World Race 2010. With Pachi Rivero and Yves Parlier on board, the FNOB team entry boasts two experts in offshore racing technology.

Pachi Rivero (left) and Yves Parlier. Lorient, 23 October 2009. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda

The name Parlier is synonymous with innovative technology and sporting spirit and Pachi Rivero has revealed that he is thrilled to welcome the Frenchman as fellow team member for the Transat Jaques Vabre: "Yves is a legend in the sailing world and a great person, as well as an amazing skipper". Parlier's extensive CV features not only two victories in the Transat Jaques Vabre, but also victories such as the Mini Transat, the Solitaire du Figaro, the Fastnet, The Transat, the Route du Café, the Route du Rhum and the record for a solitary 24 hour run, set in 2006.

Yves Parlier is delighted with the project and is not at all concerned by the relatively limited amount of time left to get to know the boat, and has full confidence in Pachi Rivero: "Pachi knows the boat inside out. He is a great sailor and skipper, we get on very well and I'm sure we'll have a very good race together".