ACCIONA SAILING

Javier ‘Bubi’ Sansó describes himself as ‘a solo sailor’. His vast experience competing with all kinds of boats includes several Open 60 competitions (He participated in the 2001, 2003 and 2009 Jacques Vabre, the 2001 EDS Atlantic Challenge and the 2000-2001 Vendée Globe). His most recent success is the Barcelona World Race, where he was the top Spaniard to classify and took fourth place in the general classification. Bubi knows all about competitive ocean sailing, especially in the Polar Regions (He was captain of the Rael, which sailed for Antarctica in 1997). In addition to his tried-and-true ability as a contender, he’s an expert in hydraulics, energy and electronics. He’s crossed the Atlantic more than 20 times (five times solo) and the Indian Ocean twice. Since 2004 he’s been captain and project manager for the Wally Tiketitoo, and for the last two seasons he’s participated in the MedCup TP52.

1. Role: To sail very fast on a light wind.
2. Nickname: Bubi
3. Place of birth: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
4. Languages: Spanish, Catalan, English, German.
5. Motto: Live free or die.
6. A virtue: Once I get my teeth into something, I don’t let go.
7. A failing: Once I get my teeth into something, I don’t let go.
8. Hidden talent: None
9. Lucky charm: Several
10. Favourite kind of water: Liquid

Major sporting achievements:

• 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre – 3rd. place.

• 2007-2008 Barcelona World Race, Mutua Madrileña Open 60 –4th place

• 2007 Rolex Fastnet, Mutua Madrileña Open 60 – 6th place

• 2003 Transat Jacques Vabre, Objectif 3 Open 60

• 2001 Transat Jacques Vabre, SME Negoceane Open 60, 4th place

• 2001 EDS Atlantic Challenge, co-skipper Gartmore Open 60, finished 4th place

• 2001 Vendée Globe, Old Spice Open 60

• 1997 Captain of the Antarctic expedition on board the 17-metre Rael. Winner of national and international races on the ¾ Ton, Mumm 36, Corel 45, different sizes of IMS boats, the Sydney 40 and the Catamaran Clairfontaine 30.

He’s been involved in yacht-racing the world over from the age of 17, and while the boat was being transported from one city to another he attended evening classes in Law at the Universidad de las Islas Baleares [University of the Balearics], going on later to obtain a Master’s Degree in Tax Law from the University of Munich. After a stint in Maintenance & Logistics at a number of shipping companies up and down the Med, Pedro’s seafaring passion led him to compete in a number of international yacht races, taking first place in the Sardinia Cup and the Swan Cup. In 2001, he decided to make a return to the world of Law; since then he has been running a lawyers’ firm based in Palma (Majorca), specializing in civil, commercial and administrative law. Today, he considers himself extremely lucky to be able to combine his three passions: his family, the sea and law.

1. Role: Legal advisor and sports consultant
2. Nickname: None
3. Place of birth: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
4. Languages: Spanish, Catalan, English, German, Italian.
5. Motto: Enjoy
6. A virtue: Determination
7. A failing: Absentmindedness, snoring.
8. A hidden talent: It must be very well hidden, because I haven’t found it yet.
9. Lucky charm: The life raft
10. Favourite form of water: Plenty of ice cubes with a good aged rum and a slice of lime.

After graduating as an officer from Marin Naval School, Ricardo Maldonado has led a professional career that has paralleled the Navy yacht-racing teams. He has been bow in several quarter-, half-, three-quarter-ton and Corel 45 world championships. He has sailed for a number of seasons as navigator on board the TP52 Aifos on one of the most demanding circuits of international sailing. He worked with Bubi in the 2000 Vendee Globe as head of the shore team. He has led the crew of the TP52 Aifos, where, among other championships, he won the King’s Cup in Palma in 2008. He is currently also vice chairman of the Balearic Island Naval Commission on Yachting.

1. Role: Coordination, marketing and logistics.
2. Nickname: Alakran (‘Skorpion’). ‘Because of my fierce temper back when I was bow.’
3. Place of birth: Ferrol.
4. Languages: Spanish, English.
5. Motto: Even the hardest rain has to let up sometime.
6. A virtue: Common sense.
7. A defect: Not holding my tongue sometimes.
8. A hidden talent: None. What you see is what you get.
9. Lucky charm: None.
10. Favourite kind of water: 20 knots and long waves.

She started sailing because in Santander water is part of city life. She’s competed for as long as she’s been sailing, claiming various national and international titles. She has travelled around the world working with different teams, during which time she also started working in marketing with high-level international teams or events such as the Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup and the Barcelona World Race.

1. Role: Marketing
2. Nickname: “the blonde”
3. Place of Birth: Santander, of course!
4. Languages: Spanish, English, French (working on it)
5. Motto: Today can be a great day
6. A virtue: tenacity
7. A defect: I’m always in a hurry
8. A hidden talent: I’m still looking for it.
9. Lucky charm: secret, but always with me
10. Preferred water conditions: in any state, solid or liquid

Ricard is naval architect and marine engineer in composite materials. He designed the IMOCA60 with which Bubi participated in his first Vendée Globe. He has always been keenly interested in projects where both the design element and the team pose a technical and human challenge. He is the designer of the Spanish Ministers 650 proto boat projects for Minitransats, but his technical projects range from racing and cruising boats to aeronautical elements and other special parts where new material engineering also requires design innovation. Partner at Teixido/Harrold Yacht Design, he has provided design and engineering support to the ACCIONA IMOCA60 project, focusing on standard ship elements and in particular the integration of EcoPowered 100% systems in its design.

1. Role: Design & technical manager.
2. Place of Birth: Barcelona.
3. Languages: Spanish, Catalan, French, English.
4. Motto: Enthusiasm, excellence, work and good sense of humor.
5. A virtue: Rigor and pragmatism at work.
6. A defect: Demanding.
7. A hidden talent: Playing the violin.
8. Lucky charm: His special watch (work) and ring (family).
9. Preferred water conditions: Saltwater, to enjoy for its own sake and for reading Patrick O’Brian’s novels.

Skipper Unlimited – International Maritime Organization, PADI scuba dive instructor, photographer by vocation, but most of all, navigator. His life has always been defined by his love for the sea. In 1997 he quit a good job in Madrid to sail around the world, and ever since he has lived and worked in the sailing industry. Since 2006 he has documented the major regatta circuits, working for sponsors, event organizers and racing teams. Since 2009 he has combined photography work with video production, always exploring new angles, looking for action and plenty of water!

1. Role: Photo and video.
2. Nickname: none, right?
3. Place of Birth: Madrid.
4. Languages: Spanish, English.
5. Motto: Passion for what I do.
6. A virtue: Enthusiastic.
7. A defect: Too enthusiastic.
8. A hidden talent: ballet.
9. Lucky charm: Too atheist for that.
10. Preferred water conditions: anywhere outside my cameras.

When he finished school, his mother advised him to pack his bags and go see the world for a year. His first contact with the sailing industry came about in Newport, USA, where he got his first job on a ship. Since then he has been knocking around the world on different vessels and with different teams (Far 40, Maxi, TP52, Wally). Eventually he fetched up at the Mediterranean port of Mallorca, where he has been living and sailing for the last 10 years. Tim knows how fortunate he is to have managed to make a living from his passion for sailing

1. Role: First mate
2. Nickname: ‘Nipper’
3. Place of birth: Nelson Bay, Australia
4. Languages: English (Kangaroo style)
5. Motto: Smile.
6. A virtue: I like hard work
7. A failing: I’m a slowcoach
8. A hidden talent: Still looking for that
9. Lucky charm: -
10. Favourite kind of water: Waves

Rivero took to the sea (“before I can recall”) in Santander and thanks to his father. He handled all types of craft and light sailing vessels. Military service duties led him to the Naval Regattas Commission where he trained as a racing yachtsman at the orders of Admiral Marcial Sanchez Barcaiztegui and the Rodriguez Toubes brothers. He was bowman for the first top-level Spanish maxi, “El Hispania”, and went on to earn a reputation as an expert bowman in a range of vessels (maxis, Americas’ Cup, super yachts etc.) over the years. He moved on to transoceanic yachting as co-skipper for “Bubi” in the Barcelona World Race. Since then he has sailed in this class and scaled to third place in the world ranking for IMOCA60 skippers.

1. Role: Trimmer, rigger and crew member.
2. Nickname: Pachi (when his friends get excited they call him Pachurri).
3. Place of birth: Santander.
4. Languages: Spanish, Santander and Cantabrian dialects and a smattering of Catalan.
5. Personal motto: Sail.
6. A virtue: Has good friends

Born in Viña del Mar (Chile). Spent each of his childhood days looking out to sea, and it fascinated him. It was his grandfather who gave him his first lessons in navigation and taught him to love the sea. Got his start in yacht-racing while an undergraduate and race-organizer at the KTH University in Stockholm (Sweden). He has taken part in a long list of races, such as the Nautor Challenge V60 Volvo Ocean Race, on board a HiQ trimaran ORMA 60; the IMOCA 60 Barcelona World Race, and other trans-Atlantic and Caribbean races.

1. AKA: Edu, Socito, Licenciao, Lalo
2. Place of Birth: Viña del Mar (Chile)
3. Language skills: Spanish, English, Swedish and French
4. Personal motto: “Unity is strength”
5. A virtue: Persistent
6. A defect: The night gets me mixed up
7. A hidden talent: Tae kwon do
8. Lucky charm: An old ring
9. Favorite water conditions: Very cold

From the time he was 10 until now, Pedro Mas has never stopped sailing. He started in the Optimist class with good regional and national results. He won two Spanish Championships in the 420 class, and that experience was his springboard into the Olympic 470 class, where he joined the pre-Olympic team in ’92. Since age 16 he’s participated in the national offshore racing circuit, and he’s belonged to regatta teams on the likes of Casera, Breitling, CaixaGalicia, Iberdrola Team and Bribón, winning three Spanish Championships, four Spanish King’s Cups, the IMS European Championship, the Japan Cup IRC, the second MedCup and other important events. He was on the Desafío Español 2007 America’s Cup team, with which he reached the semi-finals. He has experience in monotypes and was First Class 8 European Champion and came in third in the Corel 45 World Championship. He’s also raced bigger craft: the Russia Team Volvo Ocean Race (inshore), Wally, TP65 and TP52, and he has several years’ experience on the Match Race circuit.

1. Nickname: Pedrito?
2. Place of birth: Palma de Mallorca.
3. Languages: Catalan, Spanish, English.
4. Motto: Respect.
5. A virtue: Quietness.
6. A failing: It’s hard for me to socialize.
7. Hidden talent: I play the drums.
8. Lucky charm: My wife and my children.
9. Favourite kind of water: Any kind.

Dean’s first experience sailing was when he capsized his Optimist on Lake Wanaka in New Zealand at the age of six. From then on, he decided it would be better to build boats than to sail them. Dean started building boats at age 13, specializing in carbon-fibre vessels. The three Kiwi yards he worked for (Cookson Boats, Hakes Marine and Salthouse Boats) gave him the opportunity to be involved in yachts as well known round the world as the NZL-60 (winner of the America’s Cup in 2000), the Mean Machine (the TP52 World Championship), the Sayonara (Maxi World Championship), the Transpac Race (first-generation TP52) and some Fastnet races.

1. Role: Shipbuilder
2. Nickname: None
3. Place of birth: Wanaka, New Zealand
4. Languages: English
5. Motto: Pie or death
6. A virtue: Pie
7. A failing: Sleepwalking in the nude
8. A hidden talent: Sarcasm (not so hidden)
9. Lucky charm: Pie
10. Favourite kind of water: Wine

Since he was very young Jorge saw the sea not only as a form of entertainment, but a good and healthy way of making a living. Dinghy sailing and windsurfing were the trigger that pushed him to devote himself full-time to the world of sailing. After ten years working as a sailing instructor and taking part in organizing international regattas, he found in Mallorca the possibility of fulfilling his dream. Since then he has carried out navigation and maintenance tasks in various sailboats throughout the Mediterranean. High-level competition was always one of his major goals, so now more than ever he feels fortunate to do what he likes.

1. Role: Crew.
2. Nickname: The biker with the pigtail.
3. Place of Birth: Valencia, Spain.
4. Languages: Spanish, English, Catalan.
5. Motto: Regret what you do, not what you’ve failed to do.
6. A virtue: Thinking green.
7. A defect: I’m very stubborn.
8. A hidden talent: Still not looking for it.
9. Lucky charm: = P.
10. Preferred water conditions: Calm and fair conditions