© Maserati Soldini
Press release n. 5 – New York-San Francisco record
Milano, January, 6, 2013
Giovanni Soldini and Maserati have entered the trade winds
“We have entered the trade winds – writes Giovanni today at 7am – we are sailing 16-17 knots fast towards the equator, with genoa 1, fore sail and main sail. We are wet from head to toe but happy!”. After nearly 6 days and having sailed 1900 miles, Soldini and Maserati’s team have finally entered the trade winds.
“Yesterday we were stuck in a light breeze – explains Giovanni – We knew from the start that we would find this high pressure area before entering the trade winds. Luckily, in the last hours the wind is strengthening and starting from this morning it is 16-17 knots strong. It should remain constant for the next three days. Now we are sailing downwind towards the equator: it will be a complex part of the route. Aboard Maserati we are very happy also becausetoday Guido Broggi caught two small tuna: we ate them in a lemon marinade, they were delicious!”
Maserati left New York on December 31, 2012 aiming to break the New York San Francisco record. The boat must arrive in San Francisco in less than 57days and 3 hours after the start (time set by Yves Parlier aboard Aquitaine Innovations).
Giovanni Soldini and his team of eight sailors left New York yesterday afternoon at 5:22:56 pm Italian time (11:22:56 am local time) heading towards San Francisco.
They must sail 13.225 miles in less than 57 days, 3 hours and 2 minutes to break the record set by Yves Parlier aboard Aquitaine Innovations.
The record attempt can be followed live on Giovanni Soldini and Maserati’s website (www.maserati.soldini.it ). The site contains news, videos and photos of the crew’ life on board, and provides continuous monitoring of the marine weather conditions, as well as online tracking to check the position and speed of Maserati in real time. Continuous updates are also available on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW YORK – SAN FRANCISCO RECORD STORY
The 13225 nautical miles that separate New York from San Francisco via Cape Horn, are an historic route, widely travelled by clippers that were involved in the goldrush starting from the second half of 1800. The best result of the time was set in 1854 by Flying Cloud, exceptional vessel from the Boston shipyards, that reached San Francisco in 89 days and 21 hours, a record that stood for more than 130 years.
After several attempts by many boats, the 60-foot Thursday’s Child of Warren Luhrs arrived in San Francisco after 80 days and 20 hours in 1989. In 1994, Isabelle Autissier aboard Ecureuil Poitou took 62 days and 5 hours. Then, in 1998, Yves Parlier on board Aquitaine Innovations has dropped to 57 days, 3 hours, 2 minutes. This is the reference record for Giovanni Soldini and his crew who will try to beat it aboard the VOR70 Maserati, from the second half of December 2012.
The overall record in the multihull category belongs to Lionel Lemonchois that made thejourney in 43 days and 38 minutes aboard Gitana 13 in 2008.
The challenge is being sponsored by Maserati as main partner and inspiration for the boat’s name, by the Swiss bank BSI (Generali Group) and by Generali itself as co-sponsor.
