Neti's big break
Fri 26, Sept 2008 11:45:31
Antonio Cuervas-Mons Ruiloba has proved that persistence pays off.
The Spaniard, who at 26 years old is one of the youngest sailors in the race, spent his childhood dreaming of racing big boats and is about to realise his ambition onboard Telefonica Black as pitman.
But, were it not for some proactive campaigning on his part during his TP52 stint with Bouwe Bekking, he may have had to wait a while longer for his big break.
“When I was a kid I remember most people had posters of football players and singers on their walls, and I had pictures of Volvo 60s surfing at high speed over the waves,” he explained.
“When I found out about the new rule for the 70s [stipulating that two sailors on each boat must be under the age of 30], I was sailing with Bouwe Bekking on Bribon and started bugging him and Fernando (Echavarri) to give me a chance.”
He was granted his wish last October, but, intriguingly, never knew it was happening.
“I didn’t really have any ‘test’ as it were,” he says. “I was given the chance to come and sail here last October and I haven’t left since then - I’m not sure if that was the test, but I’m still here!
“I always wanted to do this race,” he explained. “I remember hearing other people talking about their experiences in the round the world race and thinking that one day I had to do that, but then never saw it as something accessible to me.”
Now that door has opened, the tornado and 49er sailor has since been in awe of the speeds reached in a Volvo Open 70.
Until now, his CV has been lit up by his win for Spain in the Sardinia Rolex Cup in 2006 and his successes on Bribon, but the man known as Neti is expecting an altogether different level of speed.
“These boats are impressive,” he says. “To sail so fast in such a big boat is quite something else. I sailed in the Tornado class in the past, which are very fast, but it’s not the same to sail fast on a boat measuring five metres, as one that is 70 feet, 14 tons at 30 knots.
“The sensation is fantastic, that is what I most love about it.
“For me the Volvo is the adventure of a lifetime, sailing around the world and seeing all of these places for me is the most exciting thing I could ever possibly do.”