Aina Bauza: A Summer of Iconic Regattas and Ocean Challenges
The Mallorcan sailor competed this summer in two iconic regattas: Les Sables – Les Açores and La Solitaire du Figaro.
With the Les Sables – Les Açores competition, Aina Bauza returned to the Atlantic for the second time in 2024, this time in one of the most prominent events in the Mini Class. A 2,400-mile course in two stages, marked by changing weather conditions and constant sail adjustments. The fleet had to deal with significant calms but also faced 25-knot winds and large waves.
The sailor encountered a setback just half a day after the start of the second leg of the race when she collided with an object while sailing at 14 knots, causing one of the rudder fittings to disconnect. After several hours of repairs, she was able to continue. Days later, the helm got stuck, breaking the main autopilot and the mounts for the second pilot, leaving her without assistance 600 miles from shore. Sailing without a pilot meant not being able to leave the helm for a moment and not being able to rest for even a minute. During daylight hours, Bauza steered with one hand while laminating the support of the second pilot with the hope that it would dry and allow her to rest for a few hours. However, the makeshift repair kept breaking, and she had to restart the process the following day. Despite the difficulties, she managed to reach Les Sables and complete the second leg of the race.
Once the competition ended, Bauza did not miss the chance to participate in the first-ever double-handed edition of the prestigious La Solitaire du Figaro, one of the most demanding solo ocean racing regattas, which annually brings together some of the world’s best sailors.
Bauza joined the American sailor in her project aboard a Figaro 3. After sailing down the River Seine from the city of Rouen, the regatta covered 600 nautical miles, starting from Le Havre in northern France and finishing in Gijón, Spain. This journey took the sailors through the English Channel, passing Wolf Rock, an iconic lighthouse in southwest England, before crossing the Bay of Biscay.
“It has been incredible to participate in the first edition of La Solitaire du Figaro that included the double-handed category. The passion for sailing in France is enormous and makes this race a big celebration, especially the prologue sailing down the River Seine,” Bauza explained about the regatta, which attracted more than a million visitors to the city of Rouen. “Sailing with the best in the world is always motivating.”
Even though they couldn’t train together and faced several onboard malfunctions, they managed to successfully reach Gijón.
Upcoming Challenges
At the end of September, Aina Bauza is scheduled to participate in the Offshore World Championship, representing the Spanish team, which will close her racing season. After having sailed over 11,000 miles, it will be time to sit down and do some office work to prepare new projects and future challenges, explained the Mallorcan sailor.
