Tomorrow (weather pending), two IMOCA Open 60’s will depart from New York City’s North Cove Marina en route to Barcelona. The goal? To set a transoceanic sailing record between the two cities, a feat that as of yet has never been accomplished. With two Spanish and one US sailor per vessel, the boats will depart from the Ambrose Light and head to the W Hotel in the port of Barcelona, hoping to arrive between the 20th and 30th of April, covering a span of 3,750 nautical miles. The concept is the braintrust of the Fundacion Navigacion Oceanica Barcelona, with support from the New York Yacht Club, New York City Sports Commission, Real Club Nautico Barcelona, and sponsors Estrella Damm and W Hotels.
The hope is that the excursion promotes tourism, sailing and cultural interest in both Barcelona and New York, while also forging a new bond between the two cities. As evidence of this, the Harbor School in Brooklyn and a select few schools in Barcelona will video conference with the skippers during the record, as well as ask questions and learn more about the sailing world. The transoceanic journey also serves as a tuneup for the Barcelona World Race, another project spearheaded by the Fundacion Navigacion Oceanica, which kicks off on New Year’s Eve and features IMOCA Open 60s spanning the globe, beginning and ending in Barcelona, covering a distance of at least 25,000 nautical miles. For more information on the NY-BCN Trans-Oceanic Sailing Record and/or to track the boats, head over to the Web site or visit their YouTube page.
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