| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for Spain | ||
| Men's Sailing | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2008 Beijing | Tornado class |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2007 | Tornado class |
| Gold | 2005 | Tornado class |
Fernando Echavarri Erasun (born August 13, 1971 in Santander, Spain) is a professional yachtsman in the Olympic Tornado Class. Teaming with crew Antón Paz Blanco, he became Spanish, European, World Champion, ISAF Sailor of the year in 2005, Olympic Gold Medalist at the Beijing Games held in Qingdao.
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Born and raised in Santander, Fernando's family moved to Pontevedra, Galicia when he was five due to his father medical practice as surgeon chief in the Montecelo Hospital. He has two brothers (Carlos and Javier) and one younger sister (Beatriz).
Fernando first sailed in a 38 feet ketch at age eight and soon joined the local sailing school where he excelled in the Optimist fleet of the Real Club Náutico de Sangenjo. His brothers and sister soon joined him and made sailing their common passion, racing regattas all over Spain and Portugal. Although his parents (Carlos and Beatriz) did not sail, they adapted their spare time and vacations to their kids racing calendar, always encouraging them to enjoy the sport. At age 15, Fernando completed the Optimist class and entered the laser (dinghy) class sailing the standard rig while only 60 kg and 170 cm. Although only competitive in light conditions, he soon developed a special technique downwind that gave him fantastic results at a national level.
In 1992, at age 20, the International Sailing Federation chose the Laser (dinghy) as the new one-person dinghy to be competed in Atlanta 1996. At that time, Fernando had joined the Spanish military draft Servicio Militar in the Ejército de Tierra de España. His duties mainly focused in being the assistant of the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the BRILAT (Brigada de Infanteria Aerotransportable) located in Pontevedra. It was at this time that Fernando truly showed his speed nature by winning every race in the laser (dinghy) in Galicia from 1991-1996 and by driving on time his Lieutenant Colonel all over the country. After 12 months in the military service, he was surprisingly discharged with honors. His old Lieutenant Colonel was later quoted saying "Fernando was the best chief assistant the Ejército de Tierra de España ever had". However, close ones doubt this highly, mostly because the overwhelming amount of anecdotes during Fernando's military service. Due to his merits, his commander was eager to provide special permits for Fernando to compete and train. It was in Spring 1993 that Fernando passed the trials to become a member in the Spanish Pre-Olympic Sailing Team Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, a position he held from 1992 to 1996. During these years he was second in the nationals in 1995 and 1996, but missed the final cut to represent Spain in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Although extremely competitive in light and mid air, his performance in windy conditions was not competitive enough. In order to enhance his competitiveness, he raced with a weighted jacket, but, as result, he developed a chronic back injury. A damage that although partially cured, still persist to this day.
In Spring 1997 Fernando teamed with Antón Paz Blanco as crew to race in the Tornado Olympic catamaran for the Sidney 2000 summer Olympics. The Tornado Class is a two person catamaran that achieves very high speeds. It was added in 1976 to the assortment of boats in the Olympic Event overseen by the International Sailing Federation. The Tornado was designed in the autumn of 1967 by Rodney March from England, with help from Terry Pierce, and Reg White, specifically for the purpose of being the new Olympic Catamaran, which was to be selected by the IYRU in an Olympic Catamaran Trials. The boat was developed mainly in Brightlingsea, England. The Tornado has since remained unchallenged as the ultimate one-design catamaran. Even more after several design updates have been introduced over the years. With its modern, stylish rigging and sleek lines the Tornado is quick to catch the eye of any water-drawn on-looker as it speeds across harbors, lakes, and oceans in over 40 countries around the world. With its ability to reach speeds of 14-16 knots upwind, and 33+ knots downwind or reaching, the Tornado is truly the purists' speed machine. The early years in the Tornado class were hard. Having a limited budget, and lacking a technical background in catamarans, they concentrated in physical condition, sailing, maximizing resources, while learning the basics. During these early years, all economical resources come from Fernando's parent's who saw a total dedication on both sailors. However, slowly, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation realized about potential of this duo. Importantly, good references from Tornado gold medalist and world champion Fernando León, his crew Pepote Ballester and the Tornado national coach Antonio Navarro, plus some promising results, promoted their presence in the National team. This brought them to a new level because León/Ballester were an international top team winning in Atlanta 1996. In 2000, Fernando and Antón were chosen as sparring (team B) in the Spanish Olympic sailing team for the Sidney 2000 Olympics.
Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz represented Spain in the Athens 2004 summer Olympic Games. The conditions were difficult with a mix of light to strong winds with wild changes in direction. The gold medal winners were Roman HAGARA and Hans Peter STEINACHER of Austria followed by the Americans Johnny Lovell and Charlie Ogletree. Hagara and Steniacher also won the gold medal in Sydney Australia. The Spanish team finished 7th place overall. However, this was the confirmation period with national institutions such as RFEV, FGV, Plan ADO, and private sponsors including Telefónica-Movistar helping their Olympic effort.
With renewed energies, Fernando and Antón started their Beijing 2008 summer Olympics campaign winning the Tornado Spain nationals, Europeans (in Sweden), 2005 Tornado World Championship (in France), plus most of the Eurolympic circuit races. As a result, they were awarded with the Rolex-ISAF World Sailor of the Year in 2005. Although the year 2006 showed inconsistent results due to Fernando racing some legs in the Volvo Ocean Race, the Tornado season was quite satisfactory with wins in the South America championship and 7th in the World's. Both races held in consecutive weeks in Buenos Aires Argentina. The season 2007 peaked in the ISAF-worlds in Cascais Portugal were Fernando and Antón become winners of this event for a second time. Importantly, they saved their passport to Beijing 2008. The conditions in China are expected to be of marginal quality with strong currents and light shifty winds that will produce unexpected results. The won the gold medal in the Tornado Class. Out of the 11 races held Fernando and Anton won four races with a total score of 44 points. Getting the silver medal was Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby of Australia with 49 points, and getting the bronze was Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinola of Argentina with 56 points.
Fernando was given the opportunity of racing keeled boats at the Club Nautico Portosin where his reputation as a dinghy sailor in the early 90s was outstanding. It didn't take him long to shine among fellow competitors from the competitive Galicia's fleet winning numerous events. However, it was the pursuit of a career in the olympics what minimized his apparitions in IMS sailing. It was after he signed for the Movistar sailing team that he got again in the IMS mediterranean circuit winning numerous events including Copa del Rey, European and world's titles. In 2006, the Movistar Volvo Ocean Race team included him in the crew to race the Rio de Janeiro-Baltimore, Baltimore-New York, New York-Plymouth legs. Sadly, drama hit the New York-Plymouth stage due to structural damage in the keel system of the Movistar VOR70 that forced the crew to abandon ship when battling a North Atlantic storm. It was the courageous crew of ABN AMRO 2 who saved them from an uncertain fate in what may have been one of the most emotional moments in offshore sailing ever.
In 2008, Fernando was name skipper of one of the two Spanish entries in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, Telefonica Black. The ten leg race started in Alicante Spain on October 4 with an inshore race, followed by the first leg from Alicante to Cape Town South Africa. Telefonica suffered structural damage to the rudder and finished the first leg in last place. In Leg 4, Telefonica Black experienced very rough headwinds and waves and a crack developed on the port side of the boat. Fernando wisely withdrew from that leg and took refuge in the Philippines. The boat was later sent to Singapore and has been shipped to Rio de Janeiro for the start of Leg 6. Telefonica Black never made it to China and missed the entire 12,500 mile leg from China to Rio during Feb-Mar 2009. Leg 6 starts on April 11 in Rio with an in port race on April 4. Leg 6 finishes in Boston. Fernando has committed to racing MIT Tech Dinghies against his brother and many other American Champions of the sailing world (Exner, Polzin, Carlos). Mr. Echavarri was also challenged to navigate a Volvo boat in the Virtual Race during Leg 5, but declined to participate due to mental duress.
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2009 Volvo Round the World Ocean Race, Telefonica Black, 6th of 8 boats, with 58 points.
2008 Olympic diploma China 2008, 1st in Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, 3rd Tornado Asian Pacific Regatta (Melbourne, Australia)
2007 Tornado world Champion (Cascais, Lisbon), 2nd in the Tornado world ranking, 3rd in the Rolex Miami, 3rd in the North American championship (Miami), 1st Spanish Nationals, 1st Spanish cup.
2006 1st in the Tornado world ranking, 5th in the Rolex Miami, Miami Rolex, 3rd in the North American championship, 5th France Olympic Week (Hyeres), Volvo Ocean Race in the Movistar, 4th in the Beneteau 25 World Championship Vigo, Royal Order Sportsmanship Merit, Olympic Medal of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Unión Fenosa Medal "best sailors of the Year", record holder of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Ranking (18 consecutive months), 1st Copa del Rey with Movistar.
2005 Tornado World Champion La Rochelle, Tornado European Champion Västervik, Spanish Champion Palma de Mallorca, Rolex-ISAF Sailor of the Year, 1st Spanish Tornado Cup (Palma de Mallorca), 1st Tornado World Ranking International Sailing Federation, 1st Holland Regatta, 1st Barcelona Olympic Week, 1st Christmas Race, 4th Hobbie Tiger World's, 3rd IMS World's Movistar, 1st Spanish IMS 500 Movistar.
2004 Olympic diploma Athens 2004, 7th in Athens 2004 summer Olympic Games, 1st Tornado World Ranking (February) International Sailing Federation, 4th Tornado World Championship Palma de Mallorca, 5th Tornado European Championship Gran Canaria, 2nd Trofeo S.A.R Princesa Sofia, 1st Spanish Cup, 3rd France Olympic Week (Hyeres), 5th Holland Regatta, 2nd Christmas Race.
2003 6th Tornado European Championship Cagliari, 1st Tornado Spanish Championship, 1st Tornado Spanish Cup, 1st Barcelona Olympic Week, 3rd Carnival Race (Cadiz), 4th Trofeo S.A.R Princesa Sofia, 3rd France Olympic Week (Hyeres), 4th Holland Regatta, 5th Kieler Woche.
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