The 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, started on November 24th at 12.00 UTC. 10 boats aligned on the starting line in Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) ready to cover the 2995 miles across the Atlantic Ocean towards the finish line in Grenada, Caribbean. With a South-West wind of 9 knots, the two competing trimarans crossed the start line almost aligned: Maserati Multi 70 followed a few seconds after PowerPlay, the English MOD 70 skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, already challenged in October in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Giovanni Soldini and Maserati Multi 70 crossed first the finish line of the 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race in Grenada, Caribbean, with an elapsed time of 6 days, 18 hours, 54 minutes and 34 seconds. The Italian Team places first in Line Honours Multihull (first boat to cross the finish line in the multihull category) and second in the MOCRA ranking (which keeps in consideration the Time Corrector Factor, with a corrected time of 14 days, 23 hours, 32 minutes and 28 seconds).
Aboard Maserati Multi 70, alongside skipper Giovanni Soldini, are 6 professional sailors: the Italian Guido Broggi (mainsail trimmer), Nico Malingri and Matteo Soldini (both grinder and trimmer); the Spanish Carlos Hernandez Robayna (trimmer) and Oliver Herrera Perez (bowman); the French François Robert (pitman).
A few minutes after crossing the finish line, Giovanni Soldini commented: “It was a very close race: for days and days we sailed at close distance and we even crossed routes on sight for three times in the middle of the Atlantic. PowerPlay is a very strong team, they know the boat really well, it was a fantastic experience for us: we were able to carry out many tests, to enhance and improve the way we sail Maserati Multi 70. We learned so much in these days and we’re very happy about this result. Really, a hard but exciting race!”
Maserati Multi 70 proceeds quickly towards Grenada, with an average speed of 28 knots in the last two hours. The oceanic match race between the two competing trimarans continues: at around 18.00 UTC Maserati Multi70 crosses paths again with PowerPlay, who passes 1.7 miles astern of the Italian crew.
At 20.00 UTC Giovanni Soldini tells: “We are on starboard tack and for the first time we were able to fly well for a couple of hours. Now there are steep two meters high waves which is not letting us fly well and we will have to slow down, but we can still stand up to PowerPlay. On port tack, without the flying rudder, we’re suffering a little.”
The two trimarans’ goal, other than winning in their category, will be to challenge the race speed record for the multihulls, set in 2015 by Lloyd Thornburg who, aboard the American Phaedo3, crossed the finish line after 5 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 3 seconds.
A few minutes before setting sail, skipper Giovanni Soldini commented: “We are very happy to start this race and to challenge again a MOD 70, especially one with a tough crew such as PowerPlay’s. Our Team is fit and energetic: we will do our best as always!”
Articles connexes
