Javier Lapresa from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, has inherited his passion for sailing from his family, since a very young age. He has entered the Global Solo Challenge with a competitive spirit, it will not be just an adventure for him and he intends to train as much as possible to be as ready as he can be. He will sail his family boat which they have owned since 1984, a Furia 37 whose design was inspired by the Fastnet 1983 winning boat, Diva. We are delighted to welcome Javier as the second Spanish entry in the event. Spain has a great number of talented offshore sailors and the open format and lower budget of the GSC may provide an opportunity for many to take on the ultimate challenge of sailing single-handed, non stop by the three great capes, and gain visibility with the international offshore sailing public.
Interview
Where does your passion for sailing come from?
It was always a family passion since I was very little.
What lessons have you learnt from sailing?
I am not looking for lessons learned, I prefer to record in my brain the mistakes that I should not make. But it has probably taught me to face difficult situations which have made me a very resolute and calm person at sea and on a day-to-day basis.
What brought you to like single-handed sailing?
Enjoying 100% of every moment at sea, doing what I want and the way I want. I do not like to go out on the water in the company of people that I have not chosen.
What prompted you to sign up for this event?
Enjoy sailing, being as competitive as possible but always putting safety first in areas where rescue is not easy if there are problems. I am not only going for the experience and as long as personal safety allows it, I will get the most out of the boat, I do not think about it any other way. I am not attracted to handicap coastal regattas because I don’t believe in that formula too much. I also don’t like fully crewed regattas.
How do you plan to prepare for this event?
Sailing as much as possible to prepare the boat and taking advantage of the greatest number of storms that we can have here in the Mediterranean, which should not be underestimated at all. If I find financial support in time, I would try to register for the 2022 Ostar and if I can’t, the 2023 Round Iceland Race. I am a person with high problem solving skills and capable of great sacrifice, very necessary qualities in delicate situations.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
Honestly, I think the most difficult thing will be to be able to get good financial or material support from a sponsor to be able to bring new electronics and sails and be on the starting line with the best chances of completing the event with the fewest possible problems and of course, the southern areas will be a challenge that will be taken with great enthusiasm but where it will be necessary to be very cautious and forward-looking. I will miss being away from my son who is now 8 months old.
Tell us about your boat or the boat you would like to have.
Built in Spain, very tough and reliable. Family-owned since 1984, when it was launched. It is a cruiser-racer inspired by the Diva, winner of the 1983 Fastnet. Although it is a very penalised design in the current IRC system, I think it can be quite competitive in such long races where the skipper has a lot to say.
Do you intend to link this personal challenge with a social message?
We are going to support ASPANOB, a local association that helps relatives of children with cancer. We are very clear that a project is bigger when it can also contribute outside of sports and personal matters. We hope to do a great Solidarity Miles campaign that could raise a lot of money, always for ASPANOB.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Like other participants, any potential sponsor who might be interested in the project can get in touch to so i can send you my dossier. It is a good sponsorship opportunity with a low budget as I already have a boat.
Sailing experience: Sailed since childhood.
About the boat: Name of the boat: Layro
Boat design: Furia 37 (Joubert/Nivelt)
Sail number: TBA
Year built: 1984
LOA: 37ft
Group: TBA
Displacement: 6100kgs
Upwind sail area: 83m2
Downwind sail area: 155m2
Additional information: The sail area will be optimised, so it will probably increase.
What is the Global Solo Challenge?
The Global Solo Challenge is a single-handed without assistance around the world sailing event with a unique format.
Text andImage Global Solo Challenge