(Madrid, Spain)- On Friday, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation
(RFEV) held its Annual Sailing Gala in Madrid for the RFEV's "sailors of
the year" awards. The "Cantabrian" sailors were some of the great
stars of the show, including the J/80 World Champion and Class 40
Champion, Pichu Torcida, and his team. There was special recognition
for sailing achievement that included the Cantabrian duo of Pachi Rivero
and Tono Piris-- both J/80 Cantabrian fleet competitors racing in the
Barcelona World Race, the double-handed around-the-world race on the
IMOCA 60s.The event was chaired by Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Theresa Zabell, vice president of the COE, Teresa Lara, vice president of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), and Gerardo Pombo, president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation. The celebration also marked the successful bid for Santander, chosen to host the ISAF World Sailing Championships in 2014, an event that brings together some 1,500 sailors from 95 countries
One final special note, the two top sailing clubs in Spain ranked on a variety of measures included the two leading J/80 fleets in Spain, both producing J/80 World Champions- 1st- Real Club Nautico de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) and 2nd Real Club Maritimo de Santander. For more J/80 Spain sailing information
