Balearic Marine Cluster and Balearic Yacht Destination are proud to introduce to you Hugo Ramon, an internationally known figure in the world of sailing. Hugo is a born and raised Mallorcan who has sailed -and been noticed- from an early age. His passion for the sea comes from his father who bought a small fishing boat when Hugo was just starting to crawl.
“My father fell in love with a boat, which he went to great lengths to afford. From that moment on, my home was filled with nautical influence. He used to bring home French nautical magazines, mainly focused on ocean sailing. So, from a very young age, I devoured these magazines, and sailing became my dream”, Hugo explains.
He then started sailing and competing in small youth regattas. At the age of 11, his father then bought a 10 metre boat and started competing in 1 or 2-day regattas. The young Hugo was delighted to accompany his father in several of them and this reaffirmed that offshore sailing was what he wanted to do.
Hugo tells us that during this time, he met a man named Jimmy Tur through a Mallorcan boat builder, Javier Estarellas. Javier was building a Mini Transat for Jimmy. In exchange for Hugo teaching him to sail, Jimmy allowed Hugo to use the Mini to cross the Atlantic. Hugo says he owes much of his career development to Jimmy and still cherishes his friendship today.
During Hugo’s career as a professional sailor, he has accumulated several achievements, three of which are noteworthy:
- Completed 3 x Mini Transats.
For those not in the know, the Mini Transat 650 consists of crossing the Atlantic Ocean alone in a 6.50m boat with no outside communication or assistance. It is the toughest Atlantic crossing a human being can undertake.
Hugo tells us: “My first Mini Transat in 2005 made me the youngest sailor to cross the Atlantic solo at the age of 20 – a title I held until a couple of years ago. I repeated the experience in 2007 and then again in 2009. I was then crowned as the only Spaniard in the world to have completed 3 x solo transatlantic races.”
- Round the World Race 2012
Another great achievement is the round the world race. Hugo tells us: “Due to the lack of investors I fought for the starting port to be Palma de Mallorca so that I could afford to participate. It was an unforgettable experience, rounding Antarctica doublehanded, and passing the 3 big Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) – it’s not something you can do every day.”
- World Champion J80 Category
That same year 2012, together with José María Van der Ploeg, Juan Merayo and Luis Más, Hugo was proclaimed World Champion in the J80 category.
On a professional level, Hugo has also achieved several accomplishments such as being Captain of the Wally 107 Open Season and being a director of the Real Club Náutico de Palma; a club that has always supported him in his projects.
Upcoming Challenges
Hugo is now preparing to make his fourth Mini Transat in 2025!
“I have been developing and designing the perfect boat for more than 15 years. I am now putting these ideas into practice and building the Mini Transat from a standard boat for this new adventure. Making the modifications myself and building a large part of the boat from scratch allows me to reduce costs. Sailing is not cheap, so I am dedicating all my savings to this project.”
Hugo is also having to focus on his physical and mental training alongside the boat build. Things such as sleep control, weather studies, astrological navigation and physical preparation are just some of the essentials.
“I will dedicate these next two years to train and compete in ‘qualification races’. These are necessary to be eligible to compete in the Mini Transat. All this at the same time as I work on the new Open Season”, Hugo explains.
His decision to undertake the Mini Transat for the fourth time is mainly motivated by the fact that he feels he can now give much more of himself than in previous editions. Also, due to the lack of private funding, it is one of the few transatlantic races he can afford.
“I am not a superstitious person, but this race is full of symbolism for me. 2025 will be the 20th anniversary of my first Mini Transat and I will turn 40 years old that year; it seems like the right time to do it.”
Given Hugo’s previous form and motivation, we also believe this could be “his” year and wish him the very best of luck. We look forward to speaking with him once he is safely back in Mallorca!
By Balearic Yacht Destination & Balearic Marine Cluster
Photos: Hugo Ramon
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