Giovanni Soldini and Maserati Multi 70’s Team are ready to set sail to attempt the Channel Record: 138 miles from Cowes (UK) to Dinard (FR). The Team plans to cross the starting line tomorrow, Thursday April 22nd, at 9.00 GMT (11.00 Italian time). Aboard the trimaran, Soldini is sailing with 5 experienced sailors: Ambrogio Beccaria, Vittorio Bissaro, Guido Broggi, François Robert, Carlos Hernandez Robayna and Matteo Soldini.
The current multihull record was set in 2015 by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson aboard MOD 70 Phaedo3: 4 hours, 48 minutes and 57 seconds, with an average speed of 28,66 knots. Phaedo3 beat the previous record by 25 minutes, set just a few months before by Lending Club 2 (former Groupama 3, currently IDEC SPORT), a 105-foot maxi trimaran, with a long list of victories and records under its belt, including the Jules Verne Trophy.
Giovanni Soldini said: «This is not an easy record, the course is short and tricky and it’s essential that we keep a high average speed. We have to try to quickly get out of the Solent, where we will have 12 knots of tailwind, then we will be able to push hard in the Channel with 25 knots of east-south-easterly wind on a beam reach. Another critical point will be near the finish line: approaching Dinard we will have to pass very close to some islands and rocks, without getting too far from the direct route. Many manoeuvres and little room for error: we’re excited and focused, and we will do our best!»
The Cowes to Dinard is the second of the three records in the English Channel in Maserati Multi 70’s racing program: on April 16th the Team conquered the Plymouth to La Rochelle record (12 hours, 15 minutes and 21 seconds) and, if the weather allows it, in the next few weeks they will attempt to beat the Fastnet Original Course record (form Cowes to Plymouth, sailing around the Fastnet Lighthouse, south of Ireland).
Photo © Raffaele Origone
