Jérémie Beyou skipper of Open 60 Delta Dore has announced his participation in the doublehanded, non-stop Barcelona World Race which starts in just under a year’s time.

Beyou’s announcement at the Paris Boat Show yesterday brings the latest tally to five IMOCA Open 60 boats, with more expected to confirm their entry over the coming months.

Thirty-year-old Beyou – the eighth skipper to be added to the Barcelona World Race roll-call, commented: “From a sporting perspective, this race will see many of the top competitive IMOCA 60 teams sailing and preparing for the next Vendée Globe. Having never sailed around the world before, it seems a vital experience for me and Delta Dore. I need to do this before leaving on my own.”

With 11 months before the start of the race, Beyou is taking some time to consider who should be his co-skipper, adding: “I have some names in head but I’m not entirely sure yet. He needs to be a solo sailor as onboard we will be two solo sailors working in relay at the helm and at the navigation station.”

Beyou’s new monohull IMOCA Open 60, designed by Farr Yacht Design, was launched in September this year, in time for the start of the solo Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale race from St Malo to Guadeloupe but sadly, because of family reasons, Beyou had to retire from the race just after the start.

Delta Dore will now undergo a three month re-fit in Lorient – Beyou’s new base – before he embarks on a dedicated period of training and corporate work beginning next April. He will then try to break the current solo Channel record before competing in the Calais Round Britain Race in early June.

On 9 August 2007, Beyou will set off on the Rolex Fastnet Race, starting from Cowes, the Isle of Wight, competing in a two-up configuration. Combined with the Fastnet, Beyou and his co-skipper will sail their 2,800-mile qualifier required to compete in the Barcelona World Race. September and October will be dedicated to the final preparation before delivering his yacht to the Catalonian port of Barcelona.