Carlos Pauner, one of four Spanish alpinist who climbed the 14 mountains over 8000 m, is looking at the main sail, while his climbing partner Raul Martinez, also sailing for the first time, steers the wheel. Photo: Tosca Ballerini
The crew of the Sailing Living Lab participated in the 29th edition of the Ruta de la Sal regatta – Pepe Ferres Trophy, from March 24th to March 26th helping out the organizing committee, ANAM (Asociación de Navegantes de Altura del Mediterráneo), with security controls.
The Ruta de la Sal is composed of an eastern route, departing from Denia, and of a northern route, departing from Ginesta (Barcelona), both arriving to Sant Antoni, Ibiza, covering a distance of 120 and 140 nautical miles, respectively.
Acrobat sailed on the northern route together with other 63 sailing boats, leaving continental Spain at 10 AM on March 24th. As one of the vessels charged of security controls, Acrobat kept a position toward the end of the sailing fleet.
Helping with security controls
The regatta started with 15 knots of wind, weakening during the afternoon and the night. Because of low winds, a few boats announced retirement from the regatta.
An Acrobat crewmember was always close to the VHF radio, listening for boats needing help for communicating with the organizing committee or with navigation. Early morning on Friday 25th, one of the racing boats launched the international distress call, asking for help since she lost her mast. Acrobat offered help for rescue, but finally the Rescue Service came in to help.
For security reasons, the organizing committee called all racing boats by radio every 12 hours during the regatta. Acrobat was charged to act as a “bridge” to communicate with boats far away behind the racing fleet, not reachable by the organizing committee. For this help with the security, Acrobat was awarded with a price: a bottle of Cava (Spanish Champagne)!
Acrobat’s captain Diego de Miguel Murillo and the alpinist Carlos Pauner receive a price for Acrobat’s help with the security organization.
The alpinist Carlos Pauner learns to sail with the Acrobat crew
Carlos Pauner, one of the four Spanish alpinists to climb all 14 mountains peaking over 8000 meters, accompanied the Sailing Living Lab crew during the Ruta de la Sal. An old friend of Diego de Miguel Murillo, Acrobat’s captain, Carlos is also a commercial airplane pilot but he had never sailed on a sailboat before.
The Ruta de la Sal regatta was the perfect chance to be initiated to the sailing practice: low winds, almost no waves, clear weather. Acrobat’s crew was happy to show Carlos how to trim sails, take the waves, follow a route with the magnetic compass and safely reach a port at night using lighthouse signals.
Carlos loved sailing and he will possibly join Acrobat’s crew during la Regata del Delta, another classic regatta organized by ANAM at the end of April. Carlos will also join the Sailing Living Lab during the Ruta de Aragón, Acrobat’s 2-months expedition taking place in July-August 2016 across the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Tosca Ballerini
Acrobat’s crew with Isabel Subirats, the widow of Pepe Ferres, founder of Ruta de la Sal regatta. Photo: Tosca Ballerini
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