The new double-handed Barcelona World Race that starts on 11th November 2007 today announced the sixth team to officially enter the race. The latest entry will be skippered by Spanish sailor Guillermo Altadill who will race alongside British sailor Brian Thompson, their combined talent and experience will make them a formidable duo out on the 25,000 mile race course. They will be racing the new Farr Design IMOCA Open 60 currently under construction in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK under the expert guidance of Neil Graham, Technical Director of the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team. The boat is due to be completed by the end of May and will be followed by an official launch and the announcement of the confirmed title sponsor shortly after.

Altadill and Thompson bring a wealth of experience to this campaign including racing together on the Maxi catamaran ‘Cheyenne’ when they claimed the crewed round the world record in 2004 of 58 days, 9 hours 36 minutes and 40 seconds. Between them they have an incredible eight circumnavigations (Altadill 6 and Thompson 2) and a range of solo, crewed, inshore, offshore, Olympic, multihull and monohul experience. Both sailors have extensive knowledge and experience in preparing and helming race boats to achieve the best result possible, this team is capable of taking on the best of what is already a highly competitive line up of the world’s top professional skippers.

Altadill, born in Barcelona and aged 44, is one of Spain’s most respected sailors and who has competed in two Volvo Ocean Races (2005/06 onboard Team Ericsson and 2001/02 onboard Assa Abloy), two Whitbread Round the World Races and The Race onboard ‘Club Med’. He has 18 Atlantic crossings under his belt, competed in the Olympics five times, has been the Spanish champion in the Soling class and Tornado class, he also coached the Olympic gold medalist in Atlanta in 1996 in the Tornado class. He is currently racing with the German America’s Cup team United Internet Team Germany.

Thompson, aged 45 who is based in Cowes, Isle of Wight, is a vastly experienced offshore sailor with over 12 years as watch captain or skipper and has held an incredible 25 world records to date. He has strong IMOCA Open 60 experience having raced onboard Kingfisher, Ecover, Skandia and was previously the skipper of Artemis.

Entries so far:
Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) & Damian Foxall (IRE) / Paprec Virbac
Vincent Riou (FRA) & Sébastien Josse (FRA) / PRB
Dominique Wavre (SUI) & Michèle Paret (FRA) / Temenos
Alex Thomson (GBR) & Andrew Cape (AUS) / Hugo Boss
Jérémie Beyou (FRA) & Sidney Gavingnet (FRA) / Delta Dore
Guillermo Altadill (ESP) & Brian Thompson (GBR) / TBC