The home run

A very dark night meant careful sailing for Educacion sin Fronteras but a smooth passage into the Mediterranean for the last boat in the Barcelona World Race, now on the definitive last stretch back home. At the 1400 GMT position report they were just 428 miles from the finish, sailing an average of 10 knots boat speed and due to arrive in Barcelona on Wednesday evening 27th February.

After the wind shifted east the Franco-Spanish team had up to 20-25 knots in the busy traffic lanes of the Straits, but Bargues was obviously delighted with their progress, as he commented this morning:

“The passage went really well and the boat performed perfectly. The AIS worked really well, it is an incredibly efficient safety tool.”

There was one particularly emotional moment for Educacion sin Fronteras during their identification to the Air Traffic Control in Gibraltar who exclaimed over the radio, “Ah yes! You must be Albert and Servane, congratulations!” bringing a smile to the faces of both skippers as they definitively left the Atlantic behind them.

With Educación sin Fronteras, the last boat racing, through Scoring Gate 8 it has been possible to calculate the fastest boat in the fleet for the corresponding leg 8 between Fernando de Noronha and Gibraltar – Temenos II, an extremely fast Atlantic passage for Dominique and Michele.

Educación sin Fronteras completed the leg in 15 days, 9 hours and 50 minutes, slower than the rest of the fleet whose times were as follows:

1.Temenos II, 13 days, 8 hours, 45 minutes
2. Mutua Madrileña, 14 days, 25 minutes
3. Hugo Boss, 14 days, 3 hours, 41 minutes
4. Paprec Virbac 2, 14 days, 22 hours
5. Educación sin Fronteras, 15 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes.

The last leg between Gibraltar and Barcelona is yet to be calculated, but is currently held by Temenos II who moved up through the Mediterranean and into the port of Barcelona in 2 days, 16 hours and 39 minutes.

To beat this time Albert Bargues and Servane Escoffier would have to cross the finish line early Tuesday evening, which with current weather predictions looks quite unlikely. On reaching Barcelona they would have completed a magnificent 108 days at sea!

Spirits on board are high, as the two skippers now look forward to their fabulous welcome at Portal de la Pau,

“Being in the Mediterranean,” said Albert, “is like being home, although it is a bit grey and chilly…we are nearly there!”