ISAF : CANALDA, CANALDA and CASTRO (ESP)

Mónica AZÓN CANALDA, Sandra AZÓN CANALDA and Graciela PISONERO CASTRO (ESP)

In March 2005 the AZON sisters teamed up with Graciela PISONERO to campaign the Yngling and have been a force to be reckoned with ever since - but it was during 2006 that they really came to the fore.

Team Azon claimed two continental titles in 2006, winning the ISAF Grade C1 North American and European titles. Sandwiched between those victories was the big one – the World Championship. The gold medal at the Worlds in La Rochelle, France was the ultimate prize and with it came a return to the number one position on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, confirming the status of this talented Spanish team.

Team Azon finished in the top ten at all but one of the ISAF Graded events they entered in the nomination period and lead their class rivals by more than 200 points on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings.

ISAF World Sailing Ranking position at the end of the nomination period (2 August 2006) - 1

4th – Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA – ISAF Grade 1 – Jan 2006
1st – Yngling North American Championship, Miami, USA – ISAF Grade C1 – Feb 2006
8th – HRH Princess Sofia Trophy, Palma de Mallorca, ESP – ISAF Grade 2 – Apr 2006
9th – Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA – ISAF Grade 1 – May 2006
1st – Yngling World Championship, La Rochelle, FRA – ISAF Grade W – Jul 2006
6th – Yngling Open, Medemblik, NED – Jul 2006 (ungraded)
1st – Yngling European Championship, Medemblik, NED – ISAF Grade C1 – Jul 2006
15th – Qingdao International Regatta, Qingdao, CHN – ISAF Grade 2 – Aug 2006

Name:	Mónica AZÓN CANALDA	Sandra AZÓN CANALDA	Graciela PISONERO CASTRO
Place of birth:	Barcelona, Spain, 19 November 1972	Barcelona, Spain, 12 November 1973	Gijon, Asturias, Spain, 3 August 1982
Profession:	Journalist & Professional Sailor	Sailor	Sailor
What inspired you to take up sailing?	We were living close to the sea and my oldest sister and brother started sailing earlier. I have always felt a special attraction to the sea.	Because my brother and sisters were already sailing and I lived in a village by the sea.	My family
What was the first boat you sailed?	Optimist, aged 9-10	Optimist, aged 8	Optimist, aged 8
How did you buy your first boat and what was it?	The first boat was a whitte Copino with a blue line, a second hand boat, but the 1st new boat was a new red transparent Winner. My parents bought it to me and gave me as a 3 kings present (5th January) and that day was my best day ever when I was young.	It was an Optimist borrowed from my sister Monica. My parents bought her a new one.	My first boat was a blue Optimist that I bought with the help of my parents.
Name your first sailing club:	Club Nautico El Masnou. We have always sailed for it	Club Nautico El Masnou	Grupo de Regatas Villaviciosa
What was the first event you competed in?	Local regattas in the yachting club in 1983	In a regatta from my club in 1982	A local race when I was 9 years old
What was the first event you won?	I think it was a regional Optimist regatta in Castelldefels in 1983	I don't remember exactly…but I suppose, a regatta from my club.	1st in the Vaurien in the National Portuguese Championship in 1995
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	6th girls European Championship (1986)	silver medal Athens 2004	Olympic Games in 2004 12th - INSERT CLASS
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	5th IYRU women World Championship (1988)	2 gold medals in World Championship	1st World Championship Yngling 2006.
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	Spare crew for Olympic Games (1992)	3 bronze medals in World Championship	1st European Championship Yngling 2006
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	3rd European FC8 (2001)	2 gold medals in European Championship
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	1st Yngling World Championship (2002)	1 silver medal European Championship
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	1st Yngling World Championship (2006)
What are the main achievements/personal highlights of your sailing career?	1st Yngling European Championship (2006)
What are you future sailing goals?	In Olympic classes the goal is the Olympic Games in Qingdao 2008. In the future I would like to create a youth sailing center with an open mind structure. I like helping new generations	I am training to improve and learn more and more about my sport every day and try to go to the 2008 Olympic Games in Qingdao to have another Olympic experience and of course, if I can, win a medal!!	My goal is to be Olympic Champion and a really good sailor
What are you future sailing goals?	In Olympic classes the goal is the Olympic Games in Qingdao 2008. In the future I would like to create a youth sailing center with an open mind structure. I like helping new generations	I would like also to start to Match Race. I think it is interesting to learn and useful for the Yngling class.	My goal is to be Olympic Champion and a really good sailor
What does sailing mean to you?	For me sailing is a challenge. A challenge because every day it is different. A challenge beetween me and the boat. A challenge beetween me and the boat with wind and waves. In a way, It´s like a game. I have to try to be the fastest and I have to try to read the shifts and the gusts.	Nowadays it is my life. It is what I have been doing since I was 8 years old as a hobby and now it is my job, but I still feel sailing as a hobby.	Sailing is my best hobby become true
What does sailing mean to you?	For me sailing is a challenge. A challenge because every day it is different. A challenge beetween me and the boat. A challenge beetween me and the boat with wind and waves. In a way, It´s like a game. I have to try to be the fastest and I have to try to read the shifts and the gusts.		Sailing is my best hobby become true
What does sailing mean to you?	For me sailing is a challenge. A challenge because every day it is different. A challenge beetween me and the boat. A challenge beetween me and the boat with wind and waves. In a way, It´s like a game. I have to try to be the fastest and I have to try to read the shifts and the gusts.	I really like everything in relation with sailing, as coaching, helping to organise a regatta…I would be involved in this sport for a lot of years, if I can…!!! I like travelling, new people from other countries, well, everything in relation with this sport and I love the sea!!	Sailing is my best hobby become true
Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career and why?	Carlos Llamas who taught me all the basics about sailing tactics and competition	My parents and family!! Since I started sailing and I have had all my results thanks to their help. We are four brothers and I always remember when we were young, they were with us every weekend at regattas, not doing anything else, just bring us to all the clubs…	Juan MEREDIZ, one of my first coaches and thank´s to him I´m here
Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career and why?	Carlos Llamas who taught me all the basics about sailing tactics and competition		Juan MEREDIZ, one of my first coaches and thank´s to him I´m here
Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career and why?	Carlos Llamas who taught me all the basics about sailing tactics and competition	After that a lot of people have helped me to arrive here, as coaches, Federation,sponsors…I think everybody has a little bit of my medals.	Juan MEREDIZ, one of my first coaches and thank´s to him I´m here
Who is your sailing hero?	All the winner sailors who enjoy sailing and in the old times I really admire Theresa ZABELL as one of the greatest sailor in the world	Ellen MACARTHUR	Torben GRAEL who is a great champion, friendly and humble
What other sports do you enjoy?	Mountain bike, squash and swimming	Tennis, Snowboard, Aerobics but in general, all sports.	Skating and walking in the mountain
What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2006 mean to you?	It is a great honor and it means that sailing has been on my heart since I started sailing	It is incredible!!! It was always like a dream for me. I was every year looking in the ISAF website at all the information about the nominations, careers of the sailors and later the winners.	It´s a great dream
What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2006 mean to you?	It is a great honor and it means that sailing has been on my heart since I started sailing		It´s a great dream
What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2006 mean to you?	It is a great honor and it means that sailing has been on my heart since I started sailing	I always thought: 'the best prize in my career would be nominated as World sailor…'and now, in 2006, after a really good year, I am nominated!! It is that now my dream is real!!	It´s a great dream
If you were voted as the winner, what would this mean to you?	I would dedicate this trophy to my parents, who have been always helped us and to all the people and sponsors who have trust in me during my career.	the best thing in my life. But as I told you before, just being nominated it means for me already that I am as the winner.	It would be a great recognition to our work 'inshore' and 'offshore', a recognition to our sponsors, the Spanish Sailing Federation, family, frie