Iker Martínez / Xabier Fernández

Iker Martínez de Lizarduy Lizarribar was born June 16, 1977, in San Sebastián and grew up sailing out of Hondarribia in Spain's Basque Country, through Optimist and Vaurien before the 49er. He and crew Xabier Fernández dominated the class through the 2000s: Worlds silver (2001), gold (2002, 2004, 2010), a run of European titles, Olympic gold at Athens 2004 and Olympic silver at Beijing 2008. The pair were named ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year in 2011. Martínez moved into ocean racing, finishing 3rd overall in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race and 2nd in the 2010-11 Barcelona World Race (with Fernández), then skippering Telefónica in 2011-12 and MAPFRE's 2014-15 campaign. During the COVID-19 lockdowns he also became known for sewing face masks.

Xabier "Xabi" Fernández Gaztañaga was born October 19, 1976, in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country. He began sailing at seven, through Optimist, Vaurien and 470 (winning a Youth Vaurien world title in 1992) before settling into the 49er with Iker Martínez. Their 2000s run culminated in Olympic gold at Athens 2004 and silver at Beijing 2008, alongside three 49er World titles and multiple European titles. Fernández built one of the most extensive ocean-racing résumés of his generation: five editions of the Volvo Ocean Race/The Ocean Race between 2005-2018 (skipper of MAPFRE in 2017-18), 2nd in the 2010-11 Barcelona World Race with Martínez, and America's Cup with Luna Rossa (2013) before joining Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR/INEOS TEAM UK from 2016. Fernández remains active in the sport as a coach, currently guiding Paula Barceló and María Cantero, Spain's 2025 49erFX World Champions.