Best known by his childhood family nickname of 'Chuny', he is one of Spain’s most famous ocean racers.
His tally of seven Volvo Ocean Races over 30 years, including a spectacular win with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the 2014-15 edition, has earned him a well-deserved place in the race’s history books. Onboard the boat, Chuny’s obsession for maximum performance means he can never sit still as he constantly trims and tweaks the sails in an effort to squeeze out every last drop of boat speed.
About
Nationality
Spanish
Date of birth
1 March 1970
Languages
Spanish, French, Portuguese, English.
Sailing career highlights
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Winner 2014-15
TP 52 World Champion
Seven participations in the Volvo Ocean Race
Q&A
You have sailed around the world seven times and have participated in many offshore regattas. Have you noticed pollution increasing or have you seen any particular situations that raised your awareness on pollution in the world’s oceans?
I first sailed around the world 25 years ago and since then I have seen many changes in pollution in the oceans. Sailing in the Southern Hemisphere, in the Indian Ocean or in the Pacific, I’ve noticed that there is a lot more marine traffic and there is also a lot more pollution. Something has to change and it’s important that people are educated about a culture of eco sustainability.
Often on stopovers along the route of oceanic regattas I have found myself invited to schools to teach the children how important it is to reuse things and not throw them into the seas. I think this is something we all need to do, we should all try to reach out to the younger generations to teach them what we have learned and at the same time change our own habits.