Joan Vila at the Barcelona World Race Interpretation Centre

On Tuesday 14 February, the Spanish skipper paid a visit to the Barcelona World Race interpretation centre which the FNOB, the organiser of the regatta, is developing in the port of Barcelona. Joan, having smashed the round the world sailing record with Loïck Peyron’s Banc Popular and having recently made his return to the forefront of the international oceanic sailing scene, gave an in-depth interview to TV3 on the premises.


This interview, details of which will be announced prior to the airing date, will deal with the technical and human aspects of oceanic speed records and round the world regattas, which Joan is a leading, world class expert in. Some excerpts of the interview will be published on the Barcelona World Race website in all the languages.
During this interview, conducted by Victor Lavagnini, Joan spoke about the strategy employed on board the giant multihulls in pursuit of the Jules Verne trophy, his own on-board experience and the scientific and technological advances that make it possible to face these oceanic challenges.

The Spanish skipper expressed his admiration for the international level achieved by the Barcelona World Race, making no secret of his desire to participate someday in the future.
The Barcelona skipper is considered one of the best on the planet and his extraordinary curriculum is a difficult one to rival. Joan has participated in four round the world races. The first was the 1989/90 Whitbread regatta, with Jan Santana and Javier de la Gándara, on board the Fortuna Extra Lights; during the 1993/94 edition, he sailed with Javier de la Gándara on the Galicia 93 Pescanova, and in 1997/98,  he teamed up with Dee Smith and John Kostecki on the Chessie Racing. During the 2001/02 edition of what is now known as the Volvo Ocean Race, Joan achieved victory on board John Kostecki’s Illbruck Challenge, becoming the first ever Spaniard to win the regatta; on that occasion, the last time he raced with the VOR 60, Joan broke the 24-hour monohull speed record, with a distance of 484 nautical miles achieved during the seventh stage, between Baltimore and La Rochelle. Joan’s fame however reaches beyond the world of sailing: he has participated in five editions of the America’s Cup, achieving spectacular victories in the 2003 and 2007 editions as part of the Alinghi Team.