Barcelona's Portal de la Pau brims with onlookers and excitement to greet We Are Water

The sporting aspect of the Barcelona World Race 2010 is now officially closed, with We Are Water crossing the finishing line in ninth place, the final entry to complete the 25,200 nautical miles around the planet. At 18:58:32 Jaume Mumbrú and Cali Sanmartí stopped the chronometers at 132 days, 4 hours, 58 minutes and 32 seconds. Both skippers also realised a dream with this regatta, by completing their first round the world event. In doing so they also carried a message to raise awareness of the need to look after water resources for the We Are Water Foundation. Sanmartí and Mumbrú acheived success on board one of the oldest entries in the fleet, launched in 2000, with a CV boasting two round the world events and an Atlantic record.

The excitement on the skipper's faces was clear as the pair from Barcelona tied up at the busy Portal de la Pau, in their home city, to then finally be able to embrace their loved ones and to receive the warm and heartfelt welcome from the large crowds gathered to greet them.Jaume Mumbrú, a lawyer by profession, but with an extensive sailing CV, was grateful as he crossed the finishing line: “We are amateur skippers from Barcelona and we felt that we represented so, so many amateur skippers who love the sea and sailing, but are not able to reach the heights of competing in a competition like this. I feel like a 'chosen one', because sailing around the world is something usually reserved for a handful of privileged sailors, and many attempt this, but few actually succeed. This opportunity came up and we couldn't let it get away. The only thing that we can express now is our gratitude and our great sense of being incredibly privileged indeed”.

Cali Sanmartí, an industrial engineer with thousands of regattas behind him beamed with satisfaction as he returned to his home city having completed the circumnavigation of the globe: “It is difficult to speak, seeing so many friends and with Barcelona here in front of us, finishing this round the world race, a truly immense regatta. Jaume are so lucky to have a regatta like this which departs from home and finishes at home, which is incredible. It's a magic moment”.

Once in port, with the crowds behind them, Jaume Mumbrú highlighted the importance of taking the We Are Water Foundation message to raise awareness of water resource issues around the world: “Flying the colours of an organisation based on a message and values that fit in perfectly with the spirit of the regatta and our own stories has helped”.

Both skippers admitted that they had felt humbled at sea on board a 60 foot yacht as they faced the immensity and sheer force of the sea. “A symbiosis is naturally created between the boat and nature. However much technology and equipment you have, out there you feel small and you realise that if you allow yourself to integrate with them, the seas will stay there in your mind. I will never forget nature and what we have been through ever”,saidSanmartí.

To combat the setbacks encountered during four months at sea, We Are Water has taken things step by step, keeping the end game in mind. Jaume Mumbrú says: “One of the things that we are happiest with and one of the secrets to our success is that we never lost sight of our objectives. We focussed on the, listened to the boat and didn't cross over the red line, because we knew we'd pay for it. Our commitment to the project was to finish the regatta, which is a difficult task. Anyone who finishes wins”.

Following this long circumnavigation, the We Are Water skippers thought only of spending time with loved ones. “Now it's time to experience the human side of life, warmth, skin. Everything else will come later”, concluded Sanmartí.

Barcelona's Councillor for Sport and President of the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona, Pere Alcober, welcomed the We Are Water team to the city alongside the deputy to the President of the Port of Barcelona, Joan Colldecarrera.