This morning, the ocean navigator Alex Pella and his crew have offered a press conference on the premises of the Real Club Naútico of Barcelona after getting the record for ´La Vuelta a España’ (The Sailing Tour of Spain). Pablo Garriga, commodore and president of the sports commision of the RCNB, has said, “it is a pride for the club that you are here and I encourage you to continue doing what you are doing in regards to your promotion of the trip. Alex, you are an inspiration to many. We have a world-class navigator that does not have the recognition he should. This record is a part of the challenge and here you have your home – we will support you in everything you do.”
“It has been very exciting to get here, I am very happy with what we have achieved. This lap around the Iberian Peninsula has been our first big test to see how everything works. In the winter we did a refurbishment of the boat with the team and it has sailed well. Desafío Victoria is a project to deliver a message beyond sailing – it intends to spread a message of sustainability.”
In November, they plan to try for the record for the Ruta del Descubrimiento (Route of Discovery), that at present is held by ‘Mapfre’, who arrived in 11 days, 7 hours and 38 seconds from Gomera to San Salvador – the island of the Bahamian Archipelago where Christopher Columbus arrived. And on November 1 2025, they intend to break the record for ‘La Vuelta al Mundo’ (The Around-the-World trip) towards the west.
Marketing director of the Festina Group Natalia Rodríguez also participated in the press conference and has commented, “as the official timekeeper of the Desafío Victoria, we feel proud to participate in the challenge that is not just of sport, but also of trying to impact society in regards to sustainability and the revival of a historical passage of Spain which is as relevant as the first ‘Vuelta al Mundo’ carried out by Juan Sebastían Elcano en 1522. We would like to congratulate the team of the Maxicat Victoria for achieving their trip around the Iberian Peninsula, which marks a new historical record.”
The captain, Alex Pella, has been accompanied in this new challenge by technical, Lalou Roucayrol, director Alejandro Cantero, rigging technician Alberto Muñoz, systems technician David Pella (in replacement of Pablo Santurde), as well as Pilar Casares and Manuel Maqueda.
Desafío Victoria – Maxicat Victoria
After getting the record for ‘La Vuelta a Menorca’ breaking it in April with a record of 5 hours, 4 minutes, and 57 seconds, this is the new challenge that Alex Pella and his crew are going to try to break, before starting The Around-the-World Trip sailing towards the west.
Historically, Spain has been the biggest maritime power and the great explorer of the blue planet. 500 years ago, the Spanish expedition, started by the Magallanes and finished by Elcano, changed the world. Inspired by this historical adventure, the Desafío Victoria was born – a massive project in which a legendary boat has been recovered to relive and enjoy the greatest oceanic challenge of all time: to do The Around-the-World Trip towards the west. The Maxicat Victoria is a legendary multihull vessel constructed in France with a length of 33.5 metres, a beam of 17.5 metres, and a mast height of 42.6 metres.
It will be a sporty, circular, and global challenge. To circumnavigate the planet towards the west is not only a human and sporting challenge, but also a race against the clock to change our mentality and the future of the planet. Therefore, this boat is being reused, and the energies that drive it are renewable; the food aboard is sustainable; the water purified; and he has his non-negotiable promise of minimizing the carbon footprint and waste generated throughout the project as much as possible. This adventure is set to face the most ambitious challenge: to lead a historical, unique, and pioneering regatta that advocates for the principles of decarbonisation, circular and regenerative economy, and educating and inspiring millions of people of any age and from any part of the world.
Festina, Qualitas Energy, and IDOM join the global Desafío Victoria
The watch brand Festina has been the main sponsor and official timekeeper of the Desafío Victoria since its beginning. Additionally, Qualitas Energy and IDOM are also collaborating in this challenge.