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Rafa Andarias Buigues is a regatta participant from Xàbia who began in the world of sailing at the early age of 8; after practising different sports in the Municipal School, he was captivated by the sport of sailing; he subsequently contacted the Yacht Club of Xàbia where he began his sports career.

From the outset, he had a difficult time since he suffered a physical disability which affected his lower limbs; however due to his intense love of sailing and his spirit of sacrifice, he managed to overcome all obstacles. Over the years; he has achieved the sports level which he holds at the present time.

He navigates in the 2.4mR class, an individual sail boat with 4.20 m length, in which the regatta sailor sits in the interior and his head remains just a few centimetres above water level. This has been a paralympic sport since the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney 2000.

When he was only 21, this athlete from Xàbia, was ranked 13th worldwide in 2011 and throughout his career, he has accomplished: 3 Championships in Spain, 4 Runner-up Championships and a Spain's Cup; he is the youngest yachtsman to achieve this.

In the present season, he wishes to be selected as a member of the Spanish Paralympic Sailing Team which shall represent Spain in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, the same as he participated in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London where he was "sparring" (reserve regatta participant).