Sanxenxo (Pontevedra)- Following his participation in the America’s Cup, with the British team led by Sir Ben Ainslie, the Basque skipper is back with the Spanish team, and fully into the daily routine ahead of their upcoming participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018
Xabi Fernández, the outstanding skipper of the Spanish team for the round-the-world race, leaving Alicante on 22nd October, is back and working at the MAPFRE base in Galicia. Recently returned from Bermuda, he has been part of the British challenger to the America’s Cup, Land Rover BAR for the last year, a participation which concluded last week. Xabi was the only Spanish sailor to be crew member of a team in this 35th edition.
The skipper from Ibarra rejoined his team mates on his first day back at work at the team’s base.
“The experience in this edition of the America’s Cup on the AC50s was incredible. The final is still being disputed, and the racing is impressive. Being part of the Land Rover BAR team has been a really good experience for me personally, and I am now back to focus on the Volvo Ocean Race,” stated the basque skipper on arrival in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra).
“In every project you learn a great deal, particularly when you make mistakes, and with this team it was no different. In this America’s Cup we also made mistakes, but I think that we were able to fix them and still give our very best. You look up to the leaders, and the people who you work with, and I learnt a huge amount from someone like Ben Ainslie; something I hope I can put to good use in this Volvo Ocean Race with MAPFRE,” he added.
It might not be easy to move from an AC50 catamaran to a VO65 one-design, but after many years as a professional in the sport of sailing, the different disciplines also have their compensation,
“The two boats and the type of sport itself are completely different. I am lucky to be able to move from one side to another, from one project into another, and my mindset is completely prepared for that. I know the VO65. We decided a very long time ago to stop thinking that another way would be better, or faster, or comparing with the last time or the next. This is the boat we have. The team is really motivated and has a great deal of enthusiasm, and that means that the transition is much easier.”
“This is my fifth Volvo Ocean Race, and the first as the sole skipper. I think we have made a really strong team.”
Now, it’s time to get to work.
