Personal Sailing with Iñaki Castañer
He holds 10 World titles across different classes, 12 Atlantic crossings, 10 National titles, and 30 National sailing trophies, alongside a successful career in marine management, notably serving as Commercial Director at North Sails for 12 years and Commercial Director at X-Yachts Spain.
Likewise, as an expert sailor, he has fully mastered team coordination and joint effort as key processes for success—knowledge he has shared as crew coordinator in Spanish America’s Cup projects and across the 25 sailing teams he has collaborated with.
“Allow me to share and apply my professional experience to your sailing projects.”
CURRENT SEASON: 2026
Throughout the 2026 season so far, Iñaki Castañer has achieved a brilliant streak of victories in both offshore racing and the high-level cruiser circuit. As sports director and tactician aboard the DK 46 “Castañer Yachts”, he secured 1st place in the Vuelta a la Costa del Sol Double-Handed Regatta, 1st place Overall in the Ruta de la Sal, and 1st place in the Trofeo Dos Continentes Marbella-Ceuta.
Aboard the Swan 56 “Intrigue”, he claimed 1st place in PalmaVela Larga 2026, 2nd place in the Conde de Godó Offshore, and 2nd place in the Swan Cup 2026. Likewise, leading the team aboard the TP 52 “Urbania”, he signed a 1st-place finish at the prestigious Trofeo de la Reina 2026.
Outside of the racing season, he manages his company I. Castañer Yachts, specializing in yacht sales and brokerage. The company holds exclusive distribution rights for several industry-leading brands: Grand Soleil, Moody, and Hanse sailboats, alongside Sunreef and Pardo motor yachts.
IÑAKI CASTAÑER – A lifetime Dedicated to Sailing
With 10 World titles, over 30 National sailing trophies, and a successful career as a manager and entrepreneur in the marine industry, Iñaki Castañer possesses exceptional experience in advising both amateur and professional sailors. Furthermore, as an expert racer, he excels in team coordination and collaborative effort as vital drivers of success—insights he actively shares through corporate Team Building sessions.
Currently, Iñaki Castañer is the CEO of I. Castañer Yachts Brokerage and Charter and a representative for North Sails, a world leader in sailmaking. He specializes in race team management and sports event coordination, competing in the most prominent national and international regattas.
EARLY CAREER – 2014
Iñaki began his professional sailing career with the Spanish Navy aboard Sirius III and Sirius IV during 1986 and 1987, achieving 2 World Vice-Championships in the One Tonner class. In 1987 and 1988, he was hired by the Spanish Navy as a civilian responsible for the construction and tuning of the first Spanish Maxi in regatta history, named Hispania. In 1989, he was selected by Tabacalera to join the crew representing Spain aboard the Maxi Fortuna in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
Between 1990 and 1992, Iñaki sailed aboard Bribón, skippered by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, winning 2 Copa del Rey de Vela titles. In 1990, as person in charge of the Danish entry Lone, he took 1st place in the 3/4 Ton World Championship and the Copa del Rey Trophy. From 1991 to 1993, he won the 3/4 Ton and 1/2 Ton World Championships aboard Mar Frío in Italy.
From 1991 to 1995, he was responsible for establishing the bases and team for Spain’s first entries in the America’s Cup, serving as crew coordinator and pitman/head of maneuvers aboard España 92 in 1992 and Rioja de España in 1995 in San Diego (USA).
From 1993, after completing the Tour de Europe Sail Racing aboard Galicia 93, he began organizing his own projects as skipper and sports director. Between 2000 and 2008, he coordinated the construction and management of his 14 race boats. From 2006 to 2009, alongside his sponsor ONO (9 years of sponsorship), he managed and competed as skipper and sports director in the world’s premier racing circuit, the Med Cup, aboard the TP 52 ONO.
From 2009 onwards, Castañer was responsible for organizing and managing British sailing teams on international circuits, including GBR Peninsula Petroleum (GP 42 and RC 44) and Aegir (MINI MAXI), acting as sports director, tactician, and skipper in Match Racing. During 2013 and 2014, he dominated major regattas on the Spanish and South American calendars, highlighting a 1st place as skipper aboard the Soto 40 Apolonia in Chiloé (Chilean Patagonia)—one of South America’s most prestigious regattas—a 3rd place in the ORC European Championship in Valencia, and victories aboard the Xp 38 XSpain in the Trofeo Conde de Godó, Trofeo PalmaVela, and 2nd place in the Copa del Rey.
2015-2019
During 2015 and 2016, Iñaki competed across the Mediterranean racing circuit aboard the British vessel Koyama, highlighting the ORC World Championship and the Copa del Rey de Vela. He also raced as tactician aboard the Xp 38 Extreme Ways with an American crew, securing 1st place in the Conde de Godó 2015, 3rd place in the ORC European Championship in Greece, and 1st place in Marmaris Race Week 2016 in Turkey. Additionally, as tactician and project manager on the Baltic 47 Klajasan, he claimed victory in the Trofeo Sant Joan.
In 2017, Iñaki served as official TVE commentator for the 2017 America’s Cup. He achieved multiple victories during the season, including 1st place in the Ruta de la Sal as tactician on the new Baltic 61 Klajasan, 1st place as skipper aboard the Soto 40 I. Castañer Yachts in the Trofeo Intercontinental Marbella-Ceuta, 1st place aboard the Xp 38 Extreme Ways in Marmaris Race Week and Aegean Race Week as tactician, and 1st place aboard the 6M Maybe in both the Trofeo Príncipe de Asturias and Trofeo S.M. Rey Juan Carlos in Sanxenxo, culminating in the 6 Metre World Championship title in Vancouver (Canada) aboard the 6M Bribón with H.M. King Juan Carlos.
In 2018, he achieved 1st place in the Copa del Rey aboard the international 6M Bribón, 1st place aboard the Swan 65 Six Jaguar in the Swan Cup 2018 as tactician and sports director, competed aboard the Swan 56 Intrigue in PalmaVela, took 2nd place in the Trofeo Conde de Godó aboard the X 41 Mihaja, 2nd place aboard the Baltic 61 Klajasan in the Trofeo Sant Joan, and 3rd place aboard the US-flagged Xp 44 X Patriate in the Vuelta a Ibiza 2018. Notable was his participation as project manager and tactician in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo aboard the Swan 65 Six Jaguar.
In 2019, highlights include his role as tactician and sports director in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta aboard X-Patriate (3rd place), 2nd place in the Trofeo Ciudad de Málaga aboard the Dehler 36 Aquilón, 1st place aboard the Baltic 61 Klajasan in the Sant Joan regatta, 1st place in the 6 Metre World Championship aboard Bribón with H.M. King Juan Carlos in Finland, and 3rd place aboard the British entry Swan 65 Six Jaguar in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo (Italy).
2020-2023
2020: 1st place in the Vuelta a Andalucía Double-Handed Regatta aboard the J/99 Jipi.
2021: 1st place in the European Championship with the 6M Bribón; 2nd place in the Trofeo Sant Joan aboard the Baltic 61 Klajasan; 3rd place in the Copa del Rey TP 52 aboard Aifos; and 3rd place in the Rolex Giraglia 2021 sailing on the X-40 Ex Oficio.
2022 – 2023: Throughout 2022 and 2023, Iñaki Castañer split his time between his role as CEO of I. Castañer Yachts (official distributor for Grand Soleil, Moody, Hanse, Sunreef, and Pardo yachts) and launching the Urbania project as sports director. Competing in the ORC World Championship / Rolex Circuit, he achieved 1st place in the Trofeo PalmaVela and the Vuelta a Ibiza Regatta, establishing the team as one of the most competitive on the Spanish professional sailing circuit.
2024-2025
During the 2024 season, he completed a Transatlantic Crossing aboard a CNB 66 owned by an I. Castañer Yachts client, achieved 3rd place in the Loro Piana Giraglia 2024 regatta aboard the Swan 56 Intrigue, and 3rd place in the Solaris Cup aboard the Solaris 58 Poseidón owned by a Chilean client. As sports director and tactician, he organized the 2024 season aboard the TP 52 Urbania, securing 1st place in the Trofeo PalmaVela, 1st place in the Mediterranean Championship, and 1st place in Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez aboard the Swan 65 Six.
In 2025, as sports director and tactician, Iñaki organized the racing season aboard the TP 52 Urbania, achieving outstanding results on the National Cruiser Circuit. Additionally, he managed the participation of the Shipman 72 Caiarossa in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Swan 56 Intrigue in the Golden Cup Trophy in Barcelona, and the launch of the Sotogrande-based DK46, winning both the Trofeo Marina de Sotogrande and the Vuelta a la Costa del Sol Double-Handed Regatta.
