After nearly two years working with Movistar on the Volvo Ocean Race, Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez have picked up their 49er Olympic campaign right where they left off. They won Gold in Athens in August 2004 but raced in just three regattas during 2005. The Spanish returned to competition on home waters at the Princess Sofia Regatta in early April where they finished fourth. And then at the ISAF Grade 1 Olympic regatta in Hyeres they won, including the final Medal Race.
Heading out into the Atlantic 15 hours later, Desjoyeaux surely had little more in mind than getting to Guadeloupe in one piece. But little was anyone to realise that the demolition derby was only half way through. With five capsizes and numerous retirements - not to mention the complete disintegration of Peyron's Fujifilm - the outcome of this race was proving about as predictable as the Grand National at Aintree.....
The Route du Rhum of late 2002 was a humdinger, with just three out of 17 ORMA 60ft trimarans making it to the finish line. For Ellen MacArthur, it was further confirmation of her growing status as one of the hottest offshore sailors in the world, as she smashed the monohull course record by more than two days....