The Artemis Transat

Unai Basurko (ESP)

Unai Basurko
© Rafa Aspiunza

Pakea Bizkaia 2009

Unai Basurko, 35, is as passionate about offshore sailing as he is about raising the Basque flag whenever the opportunity arises. Keen to reconnect his beloved region with its sailing heritage, the man has been influenced by one of Spain’s most prominent ocean racer, José Luis de Ugarte, who sailed the 1988 Carlsberg Transatlantic Race and then moved on to the BOC Challenge in 1990… Ugarte supported and encouraged Basurko, who raced the 1998 doublehanded Trans Tasman Race with Kanga Birtles… Ugarte’s rival in the BOC! The two men won, and since then young Basque has crewed, raced, trained and put all his efforts into setting up solid campaigns to fulfill his objectives. In 2003, he entered the Figaro class and learned a huge amount in terms of solo sailing, aiming to follow in his mentor’s footsteps and to participate in the Velux 5 Oceans, heir of the BOC Challenge. For that purpose, Basurko commissioned a Murray-Burns-Dovell (Australian design office) Open 60’, built it in Australia and sailed it back to Europe, covering 20 000 miles in the process. Having completed the singlehanded round the world race with stopovers, the Basque skipper today has his eyes set on the Vendée Globe and is anxious to race against the best in the sport in The Artemis Transat. His boat, Pakea Bizkaia 2009, has been optimized and thoroughly checked prior to the decisive 2008 season.

Profile
35, lives in Portugalete (Basque Country)

Sailing CV – Key moments
2007 – 15th place in the Transat Jaques Vabre
2007 – 3rd place in the Velux 5 Oceans
2004 – Round the Iberic peninsula record
2003 – First participation in the Solitaire du Figaro
1998 – Winner of the Trans Tasman Race
1998 – Skipper of the Spanish Team in the Commodores’ Cup

THE BOAT

Pakea Bizkaia 2009/ Unai Basurko
© No Credit

Name: Pakea Bizkaia 2009
Design: Murray-Burns-Dovell
Build: Jarkan YB (Australia)
Launch: August 2005

Track record
15th place in the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre
3rd place in the 2006-2007 Velux 5 Oceans

Key figures
Length: 18,28m (60’)
Beam: 5,30m (17,4’)
Weight: 8,5t
Draft: 4,50m (14,7’)
Sail area upwind: 280 square metres (3010 sq.ft)
Sail area downwind: 500 square metres (5380 sq.ft)


www.pakeabizkaia.com