18.02.2010 3:35

Javier Sansó withdraws from the second edition of the regatta to concentrate on creating a campaign with a 2014 horizon.

Antonio Piris will sail with fellow Spaniard Pachi Rivero in the Barcelona World Race 2010/11. Both skippers are from the Spanish region of Cantabria, on the northern coast of the peninsular.   The pair have already started an intensive training programme that will first lead them up to the New York – Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record on board W Hotels this coming April. This Atlantic crossing will be a fundamental step towards the pair's preparation for the double-handed round the world race the team's ultimate objective.

Toño Piris (Santander, 1963) is one of Spain's most experienced competitive sailor. His CV features two circumnavigations (a Whitbread and a Volvo Ocean Race) and four transatlantic regattas. The Spaniard is also in possession of an impressive CV in some of the world's most competitive sailing circuits, such as the International Maxi Circuit, the Audi MedCup and two America's Cup campaigns. His experience in high-tech boat construction and training crews makes Toño a highly prepared ocean yachtsman with excellent technical skills.

Toño Piris is taking over from Bubi Sansó, who had previously announced that he would be sailing with Pachi Rivero in the race. The skipper from the Spanish island of Mallorca has chosen to withdraw from the project in order to concentrate on other objectives, including the third edition of the Barcelona World Race in 2014 and the Vendée Globe 2012/13.

Pachi Rivero is incredibly satisfied with the addition of Piris: “It's magnificent to be sailing with Toño again; he's one of Spanish ocean sailing's great professionals and I know him very well. We're going to make a great team. I've spoken at length to Bubi and I wish him the very best in his new projects; I think this is a good decision for both of us”.

Yesterday in Barcelona, Toño was enthusiastic about forming a team with Pachi, whom he has shared many ocean sailing experiences with in the past: “The push from Pachi has been a big motivation in my acceptance of this offer. The fact we've known each other since we were kids meant I had complete confidence in accepting the offer and I know we'll have no problem living together on board. It's also very exciting, as it's been a while since we've sailed together. In fact, my first transatlantic regattas were with Pachi, back when we were 22 years old”.