As soon as Bernard Stamm crosses the finish line of the Velux 5 Oceans today he will be starting to think of his next project. The indefatiguable Swiss sailor is already planning another round the world race – in just six months’ time.

Last year Stamm bought Jean-Pierre Dick’s Virbac, the first Farr-designed Open 60, and the word is that he is planning to enter the Barcelona World Race this autumn the two-handed non-stop round the world race, organised by Mark Turner’s and Ellen MacArthur’s OC Group.

And who Stamm be sailing with? Rumour has it that he will be teaming up with Britain’s Conrad Humphreys, who has some funds up his sleeve after the sale of his Open 60 to Dee Caffari last year. It’s an unlikely pairing in some ways. The two strike me as temperamentally dissimilar – though that could well be a strength and it would add to a fascinating mix of skippers and co-skippers.

The Barcelona World Race is shaping up to be a top-class event. Of the seven entries already confirmed, six are brand new, state-of-the-art boats. Ultimately, there could be nine or ten boats on the start line in October. Another little bird tells me that Pedro Campos has bought Mike Golding’s Ecover (Golding is building a new 60 in New Zealand) and is also planning to take part.