As you review Antonio ‘Talpi’ Piris resume there are two things which stand out. There is the breadth and depth of his experience and the simplicity of his approach. These strengths have underpinned his long experience, both in shore support and technical roles, and on the ocean as a sailor. He likes to keep things simple and direct. Over 40 years since he first sailed an Optimist dinghy, after three America’s Cup programmes and racing around the world several times, Talpi assumes a role he has not yet played, that of shore manager for the MAPFRE team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.
Antonio Piris (53) faces a new mission in his almost 50 years in sailing, that of Shore Crew Manager of MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, the Spanish team that will start the round the world race in Alicante, Spain, on October 22nd.
In his long career, Toño Piris has been part of the boat building team and sailing team in multiple teams of all sizes and disciplines, including three editions of the America’s Cup and several ocean races around the world such as the Barcelona World Race (3rd in the 2010-11 edition) and the Whitbread Round the World (the precursor to the Volvo Ocean Race).
“This is a new position for me”, as he says from Lisbon, where he is working hard on MAPFRE to finish the first stage of the team’s boat preparation so that they can start training. “I have worked on the race before, I know a bit about the race itself and yes, I think I can be really enhance and improve the technical support on the shore. This is a great team and our goal is firstly to do a good job and be always in a podium position, and even victory. I think we can do it well, so ¡vamos MAPFRE!”
Toño Piris leads a group of five or six people that, as he explains,
“We are charged with making sure that as the boat races round the world we have a solid logistics backup and have all the spares, everything on hand to make it all go smoothly and to keep the boat in the best possible shape for the next leg.”
In addition to the annoucement of Toño Piris as Shore Crew Manager, the Spanish team has confirmed today the names of the Logistics Manager – the Catalan Maria Bertrand -, the Responsible for the Health Area (physical trainer and nutrition) and Logistics Support –a Cantabrian based in Burriana (Castellón), Iñigo Losada- and the Galician Rigger Juan Pinacho, former Team Brunel Boat Captain. All of them join Gonzalo Fernández de Velasco “Nervio” -Boatbuilding and Composites- and Santi Pablos -Boat Captain.
Photos: Amalia Infante/Volvo Ocean Race
