Charisma will be the first Spanish yacht ever to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.  Starting in 2007 with the Rolex Fastnet Race, Charisma began a journey to complete a round-the-world trip, competing in key offshore yacht races along the way.  She finished 19th overall in the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race and in 2008 made her way stateside to contest the Newport to Bermuda Race, where she placed fourth in St David’s Division Class 7 (Best Corrected time).  On her way to Australia, Charisma competed in this year's Transpac finishing first in Division 7, and is now ready to tackle the ‘Mount Everest of ocean racing’, the Rolex Sydney Hobart. 

Owner Alejandro Pérez Calzada is optimistic about his boat’s chances. “We have high hopes for Charisma's performance in this tough ocean race.  She is a well campaigned yacht and we would like to achieve a good result in our division,” said Calzada.

Link here to an interview with the owner (in Spanish):

Alejandro Pérez Calzada - 30 December 2009

Name Charisma Race name Charisma Launch year 1970 Sail number ESP7100 Owner Alejandro Perez Calzada Skipper Alejandro Perez Calzada Crew M Doreste, F Aranda, C Grutte, A Lopez-Doriga, A Mir, C Sanmarti, F Souviron, J Manuel Valades, J Luis Wood, D Wood, A. Perez, A. Serra, R. Alvaro- Irala, F. Sticovich, A. Guillermo. Club Real Club Nautico Barcelona Country Spain Type S & S 57 Designer Sparkman & Stephens Builder Palmer & Johnson Construction Aluminium IRC TCC 1.118 LOA 17.02 Beam 4.2 Draft 3.0

. Southerly Slow-Up  . First international entrant arrives for Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009