The Barcelona World Race is underway, with a clean start on Sunday afternoon, under bright, sunny skies on a warm autumn day. In fact, conditions couldn't have been better for the start, with the wind building to a Southerly of near 10 knots, just ahead of the 13:00 start time (12:00 GMT).An enormous spectator fleet of over 500 boats was on hand to celebrate the fleet of nine boats starting the Barcelona World Race, with many thousands more crowded along the shoreline to pay tribute to the 18 skippers as they embark on their three-month race around the planet.
At exactly 13:00 local time, famed offshore sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, fired off the starting gun, setting the fleet on its way. The southwesterly breeze made for a downwind start, and with gennakers and spinnakers set, the fleet looked spectacular.
Crossing the starting line first was Educación sin Fronteras, with local sailor Albert Bargués and his co-skipper Servanne Escoffier, at 26, the youngest sailor in the race. Nearly immediately following the start, PRB roared off into the spectator fleet, flying along at 12 to 14 knots under spinnaker through the crowded waters. No collisions were reported, although several close calls certainly would have left hearts pounding.
Tacking towards shore en route to Sitges, at 16:15 local time, PRB still holds the lead, with Veolia Environnement, Estrella Damm, Hugo Boss, and Delta Dore all giving chase close behind. The forecast is for lighter winds on Monday, so putting miles under the keel now is critical.
