The "Cheminées-Poujoulat" winner in the Barcelona World Race 2014-2015.

The fourth edition of the Barcelona World Race, the regatta back to the world, two, without scales with departure and arrival to Barcelona, has already begun its journey. Once approved by the RFEV and the IMOCA class, the FNOB has published the Pre- race announcement, the first step on the way to the exit of the only race back to the world organized by an entity of the Spanish state, with the doubt of the start date that will be with total certainty between December 20, 2018 and January 7, 2019.

The expert committee convened by FNOB meets regularly to assess various aspects of the race and, where appropriate, propose improvement actions for participants, the media and the general public. This committee, made up of Guillermo Altadill, Pepe Ribes, Jan Santana and citizen and sports institutions, is studying the most appropriate date to give the exit which, in any case, will be between 20 December 2018 and 7 January 2019. Coordination with other events and optimization of media coverage are some aspects that will influence this decision, which will be made public in the coming months.

The fourth edition of the Barcelona World Race will have the departure and arrival in Barcelona, will be at two, without scales and in IMOCA 60, as so far. No changes are expected in the route, which will leave all three ends per port and Antarctica per starboard, without going through the Cook Strait, as in the last edition.

The Barcelona World Race is, next to the Vendée Globe, with which the toughest and most extreme race of the IMOCA 60 class is altered every two years. This class is experiencing a formidable technological evolution in recent months, with a very significant increase in the fleet. Proof of of this is that the French race, which will sail in November 2016, will have about 30 ships on departure.

In the next edition of the race, the FNOB will strengthen its commitment to the sustainability of the oceans, working with the scientific community in data collection and spreading this concern to society through its own navigators and the media. FNOB has again renewed the collaboration agreement with UNESCO, which already started in the second edition in 2010. The Barcelona World Race has been a pioneer in this approach between sport and science and has marked the way for the other organizers of ocean races.

Action in the field of education will also be increased to disseminate ocean sailing and the necessary environmental concern among the young. The follow-up of the race is again integrated into the curricula, increasing its duration, which will be permanent and not every four years.

In the technological field, the FNOB has created ahubin which companies, institutions and universities jointly develop tools applicable to ocean sailing but which also provides advanced solutions for other sectors.

From a sports and social point of view, the FNOB wants to bring the ocean candle closer to the Barcelona. The city is already a reference for this sport at international level and the future editions of the Barcelona World Race will enhance this role. With the support of the City Council, sports programmes will be launched aimed at the dissemination of this specialty of sailing among the citizens, in coordination with various Barcelona entities and, of course, with the Spanish and Catalan federations of Vela. In the strictly social field, the race will allocate a part of its budget precisely to actions in solidarity with the districts and prioritizes social suppliers and partners, which have an impact on a better dissemination of the values of sport among citizens.

For the city of Barcelona, the race, which has its name around the world, is a first-class sports and citizen event and contributes to the design of the image of Barcelona as a reference of the sport of high competition, the organization of great events, of citizen solidarity and a determined commitment to sustainability.

Pre-Regata announcement:PRE-ANUNCIO BARCELONA WORLD RACE 2018-2019

Image from the Closure of the III BWR. The fourth is already in sight, with the publication of the Pre- (Photo by Mireia Perello from the Barcelona World Race Press Office)