After twice completing the Barcelona World Race, the
double-handed round the world race on 60-foot IMOCAs, Anna Corbella
believes she is ready to take another giant leap to sail solo. In spite
of the tight timing, the Spanish sailor is doing her utmost to find a
partner and to become the only woman lining up at the start of the next
Vendée Globe.
Anna, you are busy looking for the funding to be able to compete in the Vendée Globe?
“Yes, we have some secondary partners, but we still need to find a
headline partner, whose name will be given to the boat. We’re looking
for a total of one million euros and this headline sponsor will have to
invest 700,000 euros. I am optimistic, as I have seen that the project
is attracting a lot of interest. The firms can see the media impact they
would get from backing the only woman in the race.”
The Vendée Globe is the logical next step for you after two
double-handed voyages around the world on an IMOCA, when you finished
sixth and third?
“Exactly. I learnt a lot alongside Dee Caffari (in the 2010-2011
race, editor’s note) and Gerard Marin (in 2014-2015). Thanks to these
two trips around the world, I feel I am capable of setting sail in the
Vendée Globe, particularly seeing I also have experience of solo
sailing. In particular, I finished the Mini Transat in 2009 and I
enjoyed sailing by myself (laughs). I have attended the start of the
Vendée Globe three times and I have always said that one day I’d be out
there. The time has come. I feel I am physically, mentally and
technically ready. There are times when I think back to some of the
tricky moments in the Barcelona and I can imagine facing that sailing
alone… It’s not going to be easy and I have the skills that are required
to overcome such problems. And I have a strong team with me,
professionals whom I trust totally. Otherwise, I wouldn’t think about
setting off.”
© Jorge Andreu / BWRYou know what you can expect and you know the way…
“That’s true, but sailing an IMOCA alone is going to be new for me. I
have sailed the course twice, but these experiences were very different
from each other. The first time, I discovered everything and the chief
difficulty was psychological. For my second Barcelona World Race, the
rhythm on board was more intense. We pushed the boat harder and suffered
a lot of damage. It was very physical.”
“I can’t stay ashore and see a Vendée Globe starting without a woman”
The start of the Vendée Globe is less than nine months away. Isn’t the timing too tight?
“There isn’t going to be much time, but I think we can do it. I would have liked to have had more time to prepare. After the second Barcelona World Race, a year ago, the aim was to launch a project for the 2016 Vendée Globe. But ten days before the finish in Barcelona, on the way back up the North Atlantic, my knee was seriously injured (torn ligaments, editor’s note). Seeing how serious the injury was, we decided to postpone the project until 2020, but a few weeks ago, I saw there weren’t any women in the race. I became aware of that at a time when I was getting over my knee injury. So I am making one final effort to find a sponsor. My aim isn’t to win the Vendée Globe, but to complete it conveying the message with the best means of communication.”
The start of the Vendée Globe is less than nine months away. Isn’t the timing too tight?
“There isn’t going to be much time, but I think we can do it. I would have liked to have had more time to prepare. After the second Barcelona World Race, a year ago, the aim was to launch a project for the 2016 Vendée Globe. But ten days before the finish in Barcelona, on the way back up the North Atlantic, my knee was seriously injured (torn ligaments, editor’s note). Seeing how serious the injury was, we decided to postpone the project until 2020, but a few weeks ago, I saw there weren’t any women in the race. I became aware of that at a time when I was getting over my knee injury. So I am making one final effort to find a sponsor. My aim isn’t to win the Vendée Globe, but to complete it conveying the message with the best means of communication.”
The fact that you are a woman could be an asset as you look towards the communication…
“Yes, but I hope that one day, there won’t be the question of how
many women are competing. For now though, I can’t stay ashore and see a
Vendée Globe starting without a woman. That’s something I cannot
imagine. It would be a step backwards, which doesn’t reflect what is
really happening in our sport. There are women, who sail in the Figaro
circuit and on Minis. In the last Volvo Ocean Race, there was even a
100% female crew (Team SCA, skippered by Sam Davies, editor’s note). A
lot of these sailors would love to take part in the Vendée Globe.”
Do you have your eyes on any particular boat?
“No, as for the time being, we’re focusing on getting the budget
together. We don’t want to waste time looking for a boat without knowing
exactly how much money we will have available. So, it’s one step at a
time. But we need a reliable boat, as we’re not going to have much time
or money to test her and prepare her.”
Does that mean you could return in 2020 with a more competitive project…
“That is indeed the plan!”
Does that mean you could return in 2020 with a more competitive project…
“That is indeed the plan!”
“Hard to convince Spanish firms”
In 2010-2011, 13 Spanish skippers took part in the Barcelona
World Race. But none of them lined up for the following Vendée Globe…
Can you explain that?
© Gilles Martin-Raget“In
Spain, firms sponsoring sailing projects are used to benefiting from
tax advantages rewarding their commitment. Those advantages do not exist
for the Vendée Globe and that really complicates the situation. Only
three Spanish skippers have taken part in the Vendée Globe since the
race was created in 1989 (José de Urgate, Unaï Basurko and Javier Sanso,
editor’s note)… But I’m certain there have been many more, who would
have liked to have competed (laughs)! Sailors like Alex Pella have tried
in vain for years now. That’s why we are not limiting our search to
Spain. We are contacting French firms, who may be interested by the
Spanish market.”
Another difficulty is that solo sailing is not as well developed in Spain as in France…
Another difficulty is that solo sailing is not as well developed in Spain as in France…
“That’s entirely true… We have some good racers in the Volvo Ocean
Race, the Barcelona, the America’s Cup, but very few sail solo. The
problem is more general. Sailing as a sport is not as popular as in
France and the media doesn’t talk about it very much. When I go to Les
Sables d’Olonne for the start of the Vendée Globe, I’m surprised by the
enthusiasm of the crowd. The man in the street knows all about the race
and the skippers. Here in Barcelona, that is far from the case with the
Barcelona World Race, even if things are gradually changing. After the
last Barcelona, I got more coverage in the media. My project for the
Vendée Globe could contribute to moving things forward.”
Interview with Olivier Bourbon / Mer & Media Agency
Interview with Olivier Bourbon / Mer & Media Agency
(www.vendeeglobe.org)
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