Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini ready to set sail for the Plymouth-La Rochelle record
Four weeks in search of records in the English Channel for the Italian trimaran Giovanni Soldini and the crew of the Maserati Multi 70 are ready for a new challenge: the record Plymouth (UK) – La Rochelle (FR). A possible departure is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, around 13 GMT.
The Team has been in Cherbourg (FR) for a few days, where it is carefully studying the evolution of the meteorological conditions to identify the ideal windows to try to break three records on the Canal: in addition to Plymouth-La Rochelle, the Cowes-Dinard (Record of the Canal) and the Fastnet Original Course (from Cowes to Plymouth, via Fastnet Lighthouse, southern Ireland).
“During this period the regattas are still inactive,” explains Soldini, “so we believe that these records are an excellent opportunity to maximize the Maserati Multi 70 and stay in training. The records in the Canal are very complex, there are some points where the tidal currents reach up to 8 knots of speed, so it is essential to find the conditions that allow a sustained wind in phase with the tides, so as not to navigate against the current. These are historical records, currently in the hands of Phaedo3 and PowerPlay, but they are within our grasp and we intend to snatch at least one. ”
Soldini continues: “Based on our latest analysis, it appears that Thursday opens a possible window for the record from Plymouth to La Rochelle, but there are many variables at stake and conditions could change at the last second. One of the unknowns is still the wind angle that we will find behind the island of Ouessant, northeast of France, because the models do not agree: we are heavily loaded and ready to go out at the right time, we will have to calculate each maneuver with precision. , but that’s precisely the beauty of records, especially those that are so tight! ”
The 329-mile route from Plymouth to La Rochelle is characterized by several difficult passages, with wind changes and strong tidal currents. The Maserati Multi 70 Team will have to finish the race in less than 14 hours, 5 minutes and 20 seconds, a time set by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson aboard the Phaedo3 in 2015, with an average speed of 23.36 knots.
The ready-to-go team aboard the Maserati Multi 70 is made up of 5 experienced sailors: with Giovanni Soldini will be Giulio Bertelli, who has sailed in various classes (including Class40, VOR70 and MOD70) and was part of the Luna Shore team. for the 34th edition of the America’s Cup, as well as being an expert in the development of high performance foil boats. With them also Guido Broggi, Carlos Hernández Robayna, Oliver Herrera Pérez and Matteo Soldini.
