Race Director appointed

A familiar figure steps in for next year's Barcelona World Race

Denis Horeau has been announced as the new Race Director of the the Barcelona World Race. Horeau is one of the greatest experts in the management of offshore and round the world racing. He will be responsible for the intensive planning and preparation involved for the double-handed round the world race, which starts on 3 December, 2010.

Horeau was born in Nantes, France, in 1951, and his appointment by the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona (FNOB), organisers of the Barcelona World Race, follows the publication of the pre-Notice of Race on 14 June, this year.

Horeau takes on the race management role for the Barcelona World Race following an outstanding track record. He has three times been Race Director of the Vendée Globe (1989, 2004 and 2008) and nine times for the Solitaire du Figaro (1996-2004) as well as for other outstanding races such as the New York-San Francisco round Cape Horn and The Race It was during The Race, a non-stop ‘no limits’ competition to mark the new millennium in 2001, which also started in Barcelona, that Horeau, working closely with the Catalan Sailing Federation (FCV), thereby beginning his association with the city. It proved to be the foundation for his involvement now on this second edition of what has become a global oceanic event based in Barcelona.

As Race Director, Horeau will have full responsibility for the sports management of the Barcelona World Race. Onshore he will be in charge of the structure of the race management team, with two assistant managers, and a race monitoring office. He will ensure the application of regulations and the Notice of Race both in the lead-up and throughout the competition, and for the duration of the race, will oversee the round-the-clock monitoring of the boats’ progress at sea, as well as the application of the sailing communication protocol.

The professional profile required to take overall responsibility, plus a wide technical and logistical experience, and an in-depth knowledge of offshore racing and its participants, is ideally suited to Horeau.

He takes over from Sylvie Viant, a compatriot also known worldwide in race management. She was Race Director of the Barcelona World Race 2007/08 (the first edition of the regatta) and her work is recognised as being of fundamental importance and reference for the new team.

The new Race Director has already joined the Barcelona World Race team and is involved in an intense schedule of planning.

Horeau is enthusiastic about his new role: “The Barcelona World Race is heading for its second start and we have great potential to develop and grow. Its format as a double-handed race is a unique asset, which has great scope for international development,” he said.