Personal Sailing with Iñaki Castañer
He has 10 world titles in different categories, 12 Atlantic crossings, 10 national titles, 30 national sailing trophies as well as a successful career in the world of sailing as a manager, including: commercial management of North Sails for 12 years, commercial management of X-Yachts Spain.
Likewise, as an expert sailor, he perfectly masters the concepts of team coordination and joint effort as key processes for success, knowledge that he has shared as crew chief in Spanish America’s Cup projects and in the 25 sailing teams with which he has collaborated.
“I am pleased to share and apply my professional experience to your sailing projects”
PRESENT: 2025-26
In 2025, Iñaki organized the racing season aboard the TP 52 “Urbania” as sports and tactical manager, achieving significant results in the National Cruising Circuit (Circuito Nacional de Cruceros).
He also managed the participation of the Shipman 72 “Caiarossa” in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, as well as the Swan 56 “Intrigue” in the Trofeo Golden Cup in Barcelona and the launch of the DK46 based in Sotogrande, which won the Trofeo de Marina de Sotogrande and the Vuelta a la Costa del Sol with a crew of two members.
With a view to the 2026 season, Castañer is preparing to participate in the most prestigious competitions such as the ORC World Championship aboard the TP 52 Urbania, the Campeonato del Mediterráneo, the Kings Cup in Palma, and the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo aboard the Swan 56 “Intrigue.”
Currently, outside of the racing season, he manages his company I. Castañer Yachts, which is specialized in the sale and purchase of sailing boats. The company has exclusive distribution rights for several leading brands in the sector: Grand Soleil, Moody, and Hanse for sailboats; Sunreef, Catana, and Bali for catamarans; and Pardo for motorboats.
IÑAKI CASTAÑER – A lifetime Dedicated to Sailing
As the winner of 10 World Championship titles and more than 30 national sailing trophies, in addition to a successful career as a manager and entrepreneur in the nautical world, Iñaki Castañer has exceptional experience advising both amateur and professional sailors.
Furthermore, as an expert racing sailor, he fully understands the principles of team coordination and collective effort as key processes for success, knowledge he shares and teaches through corporate team-building sessions.
Currently, Iñaki Castañer is CEO of I. Castañer Yachts Brokerage and Charter and a representative of North Sails, the world’s leading sail manufacturer. He specializes in regatta team management and coordination of sailing-related sporting events, competing in the most important national and international regattas.
BEGINNINGS – 2014
Iñaki began sailing professionally with the Spanish Navy aboard Sirius III and Sirius IV during 1986 and 1987, achieving two World Championship runner-up titles in the One Tonner class. During 1987 and 1988, he was hired by the Spanish Navy as a civilian, responsible for the construction and preparation of the first Spanish Maxi in regatta history, known as Hispania. In 1989, he was selected by the company Tabacalera to join the crew representing Spain aboard the Maxi Fortuna in the Round the World Sailing Race.
Between 1990 and 1992, Iñaki Castañer sailed aboard Bribón, helmed by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, achieving two Copa del Rey de Vela titles. In 1990, acting as the person in charge of the Danish yacht Lone, he achieved first place in the ¾ Ton World Championship and won the Copa del Rey Trophy. During 1991, 1992 and 1993, he won the ¾ Ton World Championships and the ½ Ton World Championship aboard Mar Frío in Italy. From 1991 to 1995, Iñaki Castañer was responsible for establishing the bases and teams of Spain’s first America’s Cup participations, serving as crew coordinator and foredeck leader aboard España 92 in 1992 and Rioja de España in 1995 in San Diego (USA).
From 1993 onwards, after completing the European Tour aboard Galicia 93, he began organizing his own projects as skipper and sports director. Between 2000 and 2008, Iñaki Castañer coordinated the construction and management of his 14 racing yachts, and from 2006 to 2009 he managed and competed, together with his sponsor ONO (nine years of sponsorship), as skipper and sports director in the world’s most important regatta circuit, the MED CUP, aboard the TP52 “ONO”. From 2009 onwards, Castañer was responsible for organizing and managing British sailing teams in international circuits such as GBR Peninsula Petroleum (GP42 and RC44) and Aegir (Mini Maxi). In both teams, Castañer held the position of sports director, as well as tactician and skipper in the Match Race discipline. During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, he achieved victories in the most important regattas on the Spanish and South American calendars, highlighting his first place as skipper aboard the Soto 40 “Apolonia” in one of South America’s most prestigious regattas, Chiloé, in Chilean Patagonia, as well as his third place in the ORC European Championship in the waters of Valencia. He also achieved victories aboard the Xp 38 “Spain” in the Conde de Godó Trophy and the Palma Vela Trophy, and a second place in the Copa del Rey.
2015-2019
During 2015 and 2016, Iñaki participated throughout the entire Mediterranean regatta circuit aboard the British yacht Koyama, standing out in the ORC World Championship and the Copa del Rey de Vela. He also participated as tactician aboard the Xp 38 “Extreme Ways” with an American crew, achieving first place in the 2015 Conde de Godó Trophy, third place in the ORC European World Championship in Greece, and first place in the Marmaris Race Week 2016 in Turkey. Likewise, through his participation as tactician and project manager aboard the Baltic 47 “Klasajan”, he achieved first place in the Trofeo Sant Joan.
In 2017, Iñaki Castañer served as official commentator for TVE during the America’s Cup 2017. During the season, he achieved multiple victories, including first place as tactician aboard the new Baltic 61 “Klasajan” in the Ruta de la Sal; first place as skipper aboard the Soto 40 “I. Castañer Yachts” in the Intercontinental Marbella–Ceuta Trophy; first place as tactician aboard the Xp 38 “Extreme Ways” in the Marmaris Race Week and the Aegean Race Week; first place aboard the 6 Metre “Maybe” in both the Prince of Asturias Trophy and the King Juan Carlos Trophy in Sanxenxo, culminating the season with victory in the 6 Metre World Championship in Vancouver, Canada, aboard the 6 Metre “Bribón” with His Majesty King Juan Carlos I.
In 2018, Iñaki achieved first place in the Copa del Rey aboard the international 6 Metre “Bribón”, first place aboard the Swan 65 “Six Jaguar” in the Swan Cup 2018, serving as tactician and sports director. He also participated aboard the Swan 56 “Intrigue” as tactician and sports director in the Palma Vela Trophy, achieved second place in the Conde de Godó Trophy aboard the X-41 “Mihaja”, second place aboard the Baltic 61 “Klajasan” in the Trofeo Sant Joan, and third place aboard the Xp 44 “X Patriate”, sailing under the American flag, in the Vuelta a Ibiza 2018. It is also worth highlighting his participation as project manager and tactician in the Maxi Yacht World Championship in Porto Cervo aboard the Swan 65 “Six Jaguar”.
In 2019, it is worth highlighting his participation as tactician and sports director in the St. Maarten Heineken Trophy aboard the American yacht “X-Patriate”, where he achieved third place. He also achieved second place in the Trofeo Ciudad de Málaga aboard the Dehler 36 “Aquilón”, first place aboard the Baltic 61 “Klajasan” in the Trofeo Sant Joan, first place in the 6 Metre World Championship aboard “Bribón” with His Majesty King Juan Carlos I in the waters of Finland, and third place aboard the British yacht Swan 65 “Six Jaguar” in the Maxi Yacht World Championship in Porto Cervo, Italy.
2020-2023
In 2020, he achieved first place in the Two-Handed Vuelta a Andalucía Regatta aboard the J99 “JIPI”.
In 2021, he achieved first place in the European Championship aboard the 6 Metre “Bribón”, second place in the Trofeo Sant Joan aboard the Baltic 61 “Klajasan”, third place in the Copa del Rey aboard the TP52 “Aifos”, and third place in the Giraglia 2021, sailing aboard “Ex Officio”, an X-40.
During 2022 and 2023, Iñaki Castañer alternated his time as CEO of the company I. Castañer-Yachts, official distributor of Hanse and Moody yachts, while launching, as sports director, the Urbania project, participating in the ORC World Championship – Rolex Circuit, achieving first place in the Palma Vela Trophy and the Vuelta a Ibiza Regatta, and establishing itself as one of the most competitive and high-potential teams in the Spanish professional sailing regatta circuit.
2024
During the 2024 season, he completed the Atlantic Crossing aboard a CNB 66, owned by a client of I. Castañer-Yachts, achieving third place in the Loro Piana Giraglia 2024 aboard the Swan 56 “Intrigue”, as well as third place in the Solaris Cup aboard a Solaris 58 “Poseidón”, owned by a Chilean client.
As sports director and tactician, he organized the 2024 season aboard the TP52 “Urbania”, achieving first place in the Palma Vela Trophy, first place in the Mediterranean Championship, and first place in the French regatta Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez aboard a Swan 65 “Six”.
