• Jean Le Cam crowned IMOCA Ocean Masters World Champion

    by  • 21 April 2015 • Barcelona World Race

    [Source: Barcelona World Race] Barcelona’s historic Maritime Museum was the perfect venue this afternoon for the prizegiving and awards ceremony for the 2014-15 Barcelona World Race. The reception honoured all of the eight pairs of skippers who competed in the race, particularly highlighting the top three finishers: Cheminées Poujoulat, Neutrogena and GAES Centros Auditivos. On behalf of the organisers and the skippers, thanks were extended to all of the sponsors and supporters of the event which combines sport with adventure, science and education. All of the schools, universities and scientific institutions which collaborated with the different programmes and initiatives of the Barcelona World Race were afforded special recognition. Jean Le Cam (FRA) was crowned IMOCA Ocean Masters World Champion, the IMOCA World Championship concluding with this 2014-15 Barcelona World Race. Second was Bernard Stamm (SUI) and third, Guillermo Altadill (ESP).

    Barcelona World Race Awards Ceremony. Mireia Perello

    Barcelona World Race Awards Ceremony. Mireia Perello

    The ceremony opened with one minute’s silence observed in memory of the victims of a tragic school shooting in Barcelona yesterday and for the loss of lives in the Mediterranean on Sunday. The key awards were presented by Jean Kerhoas, the president of the IMOCA class, Sir Keith Mills, president of Open Sports Management, the organisers of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship, by Xavier Carbonell, managing director of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona, by José Ángel Rodríguez, president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation and by Xavier Torres, president of the Catalan Sailing Federation.

    Barcelona World Race Awards Ceremony. Mireia Perello

    Barcelona World Race Awards Ceremony. Mireia Perello

    Jean Pierre Dick, the French skipper who won the first two editions of the Barcelona World Race was in attendance, choosing to visit the prizegiving to honour his peers. The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of trophies to athletes. The winners of the race, Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam, accepted the warm applause of their rivals and peers which honoured their extraordinary race aboard Cheminées Poujoulat, setting the new reference time of 84 days 05 hours, 50 minutes and 25 seconds.   The other podium finishers, second placed Neutrogena of Guillermo Altadill and José Muñoz, and the third placed GAES Centros Auditivos of AnnaCorbella and Gerard Marín received loud applause when they accepted their prizes. But all of the eight teams were recognised, not least for their collaboration in scientific projects commissioned by various institutions such as UNESCO. So skippers of One Planet, One Ocean & Pharmaton, the We Are Water, the Renault Captur, the Spirit of Hungary and also Hugo Boss also received their awards.

     
    Statement from Sir Keith Mills, Chairman of OSM – Open Sports Management, organiser of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Jean Le Cam on winning the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship 2013-14 and to Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill on completing the impressive podium. Few sailors have been such consistent ambassadors of the IMOCA Class as these incredible skippers and nobody understands the technology of these complex IMOCA 60s more than Jean, making him not only an amazing sailor, but also a hugely valuable long-term member of the IMOCA Executive Committee.

    I am proud today to celebrate the accomplishment of three international and legendary figures of our sport. Congratulations King Jean! Congratulations Bernard! Congratulations Guillermo!»

    Statement from Jean Kerhoas, President of the IMOCA Class: “Congratulations to Jean Le Cam, winner of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship 2013-2014. It is the consecration of a remarkable champion in the world of offshore racing, completing what is already a very rich track record earned over the course of an extraordinary career.

    By securing two fabulous victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Barcelona World Race, Jean quite logically rounds off this first edition of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship on the highest step of the podium

    My warmest congratulations also to his two very European podium companions, Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill, both incredible skippers who have sailed a very fine race.”