Giovanni Soldini and Maserati Multi 70’s crew are ready for a new challenge: the record from Plymouth (UK) to La Rochelle (FR). A possible starting time is set for Thursday April 15th around 13 GMT.
The Team arrived in Cherbourg (FR) a few days ago, from where they are meticulously studying the evolution of the weather conditions to identify ideal windows to attempt to beat three records in the Channel: other than the Plymouth-La Rochelle, the Cowes to Dinard (the Channel Record), and the Fastnet Original Course record (from Cowes to Plymouth, sailing around the Fastnet Lighthouse, south of Ireland).
Soldini explains: « At this time the regattas are still off, so we think these records are a great opportunity to push the trimaran to its best and to keep training. The records in the Channel are very challenging, there are some points where the tidal currents reach up to 8 knots, so it’s essential to find strong wind in phase with the tides, to avoid sailing against the current. These are historical records, at the moment held by Phaedo3 and PowerPlay, but they are within our reach and we aim to snatch at last one of them».
Soldini continues: «According to our latest analysis, it looks like there is a possible window for the Plymouth to La Rochelle record on Thursday, but there are many variables that come into play and the conditions could change at the last second. One of them is the wind angle after the Island of Ouassant, northeast of France, because the models do not agree: we’re super excited and ready to set sail at the right moment, we will have to precisely calculate every move, but this is what’s thrilling about records, especially the tight ones!»
The 329-mile-long course from Plymouth to La Rochelle has many difficult passages, with wind changes and strong tidal currents. Maserati Multi 70’s Team will have to complete the challenge in less than 14 hours, 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The current record time was set by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson aboard Phaedo3 in 2015, with an average speed of 23,36 knots.
The Team ready to set sail aboard Maserati Multi 70 is made of 5 fierce sailors: with Giovanni Soldini there will be Giulio Bertelli: he sailed aboard many classes (including Class40s, VOR70s and MOD70s), he was part of Luna Rossa shore team for the 34th America’s Cup and he’s a keen developer of high performance foiling yachts. Alongside them also Guido Broggi, Carlos Hernandez Robayna, Oliver Herrera Perez, and Matteo Soldini.
Photo © Raffaele Origone
