Varador 2000 and Josep Pedró: from the sea to the desert, on course for Dakar 2027

At the Monaco Yacht Show we unveiled our partnership with the Catalan rider who finished second in the Original by Motul category at Dakar 2026

At Varador 2000 we’ve been taking care of boats with our own hands since 1984. We’re a close-knit, family-run shipyard, and the same team sees each project through from start to finish. When we met Josep Pedró, we saw straight away that we shared more than enthusiasm. We share a way of working.

Josep is a rally rider who competes at the Dakar in the Original by Motul category, the toughest of them all. There’s no assistance and no mechanics waiting at the end of each stage. When the day is done, the rider checks, repairs and prepares the bike for the next one himself. It’s self-reliance, endurance and craftsmanship in their purest form. At Dakar 2026 he finished second in his category, and now he’s going back for more.

A presentation overlooking the port of Monaco

On 24 September we officially presented the partnership at our Monaco Yacht Show stand (AL27, Quai Albert Ier), under the banner “The Crossing to Dakar 2027 Continues”. It was a special afternoon. Josep told us first-hand what it takes to prepare for one of the hardest races in the world, and he answered the audience’s questions about the real challenges a Dakar rider faces: the solitude, the navigation, breakdowns in the middle of the desert and the fatigue.

It made sense for motorsport and the sea to meet at one of the great stages of international yachting. A superyacht refit and a Dakar stage have more in common than you’d think. Both take preparation and precision, both mean solving the unexpected, and in both you don’t stop until you reach port (or the finish line).

Why the Dakar?

Because it reflects who we are. At the shipyard, as in the Original category, technical detail is everything, and every problem gets solved with know-how and hard work. Varador 2000 is one of Josep’s main sponsors on this new crossing, and we’ll be with him through the preparation, the race and the journey home.

And now… Saudi Arabia or Morocco?

The adventure continues, and there’s news. The organisers are still deciding where the 2027 edition will be held. Saudi Arabia, host of recent editions, is still in the running, but Morocco is also being considered, which would mean a return of the Dakar to Africa. Wherever it ends up, Josep is already training, and we’ll be right there with him.

Follow the journey

Over the coming months we’ll share content from Josep’s preparation: his visits to the shipyard, his day-to-day training, the nerves before the start and, of course, the race itself. Follow the whole crossing on our Instagram @varador2000shipyard_marina and with the hashtags #LaTravesiaAlDakarContinua and #DelMarAlDesierto.

From the sea to the desert. Go, Josep!