Hard Conditions for IMOCA 60 One Planet, One Ocean/Pharmaton in the Southern Ocean

The IMOCA 60 One Planet, One Ocean/Pharmaton endured a punishing stretch during the Southern Ocean leg of the double-handed, non-stop Barcelona World Race. Skippered by Aleix Gelabert and Didac Costa, the two-person team faced heavy headwinds and 13-foot seas for much of a 24-hour period, testing both boat and crew in one of the world’s most demanding ocean environments. The Barcelona World Race starts and finishes in Barcelona, Spain, and the fleet is expected to complete the circumnavigation by the end of March.

April 2015 issue

The Southern Ocean is notorious among ocean racers for its sustained winds, large swells and rapidly changing conditions, and these factors combine to make any leg through this region especially challenging for double-handed teams. Onboard an IMOCA 60, which is a high-performance monohull class designed for long-distance ocean racing, the two sailors must constantly balance speed, safety and the physical limits of the crew. Managing sail changes, steering, navigation and systems maintenance with just two people means long shifts and little rest, and when the weather turns violent the pressure on both sailors intensifies.

For Gelabert and Costa, the 24-hour period of battling headwinds and 13-foot seas brought those pressures into sharp focus. Heavy headwinds force sustained sail management and careful trimming to keep the boat safe while still maintaining forward momentum. Large seas add to the physical stress on the hull and appendages and increase the risk of gear failure. In such conditions every decision—when to alter course, which sail configuration to adopt, how aggressively to push the boat—must weigh performance against reliability and crew endurance.

Double-handed racing demands exceptional seamanship and clear communication. With only two people onboard, tasks that would normally be distributed among a larger crew fall entirely on the pair, so effective watch systems and concise communication are essential. Rest management becomes a tactical element: short naps, strict routines and prioritizing essential repairs or sail changes help sailors cope with fatigue. The combination of challenging sea state and headwinds means that both Gelabert and Costa needed to stay vigilant around the clock, monitoring weather forecasts, sea conditions and the mechanical state of the IMOCA 60.

Boat preparation and onboard maintenance are also critical in these conditions. High loads on rigging, winches and foils can reveal weaknesses that are otherwise hidden in calmer waters. Crews must be prepared to perform quick repairs at sea, often in uncomfortable and damp conditions, to avoid more serious failures. Preventive maintenance and conservative sail choices at critical moments can be the difference between safely completing a tough leg and suffering a compounding equipment failure.

As the Barcelona World Race progresses toward its finish in Barcelona, the ability of teams to manage weather systems, maintain their boats and sustain crew performance will determine final positions and the overall success of each campaign. The Southern Ocean leg is a pivotal section that often separates contenders from also-rans, and the experiences of One Planet, One Ocean/Pharmaton underlines how unforgiving this stretch of ocean can be. For followers of the race and supporters of Gelabert and Costa, the resilience and skill they displayed through that difficult 24-hour window are a clear demonstration of the demands of modern double-handed ocean racing.

With the fleet expected to complete the non-stop circumnavigation by the end of March, attention now turns to the closing stages of the race. Teams will continue to balance bold tactical moves with careful management of both crew and equipment as they aim to reach Barcelona after a relentless test of endurance, navigation and seamanship.