The self-built boat from the super expert going strong at ARC+

Autumn is the season for Atlantic crossings, and again this year thousands of sailors from all over the world, taking advantage of the trade wind season, are sailing from Europe to the Americas and the Caribbean in particular. Among them is the large community of the ARC, the Atlantic rally (Is not definable as a real regatta as the regulations also provide for the possibility of the use of the engine as they explain HERE the organizers themselves) from east to west that with each edition “kidnaps” the dreams of hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts who dream of doing it with their cruising boats.

The original version of the ARC involves the 2700-mile direct crossing from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia, the Arc Plus version offers imvece the stop in Cape Verde as an intermediate stop. Just in this version of the Atlantic rally two Italian boats in particular stood out, demonstrating good sailing and also appreciable speed averages. We are referring to Aldo Fumagalli’s trimaran Neel 47 (which we will tell you about in a future article) and to Davide Zerbinati’s Stadtship 54 AC (an appraised surveyor and shipbuilder in Italy and beyond) author of such excellent sailing that it was the first boat to cross the finish line in the Cruising category. A not insignificant detail is that the boat was built by Zerbinati himself with his father.

“We rally as a family crew with Aluaka,” Davide Zerbinati told us, “The boat we built. We started in strong winds of 30-40 knots and three-meter waves, six boats withdrawn due to rudder problems. Two busy days and then everything calmed down. The crews were put to the test and so were the boats. We covered the 890 miles at an average of 8.4 knots.”

The Stadtship 54 AC

But what kind of boat is Davide Zerbinati’s? As the name also suggests, the design is by Van De Stadt, who conceived the sail plan, water lines and appendages. The interiors, on the other hand, were made by Cantiere Zuanelli; the construction, on the other hand, is the very work of the Zerbinati brothers and the family shipyard, Vallescrivia. It is a boat, 16.45 m long and 4.5o wide (find out HERE all its features) aluminum cruising boat, with a 7 mm hull, launched in 2014. For the Atlantic crossing, no special ccorruptions were necessary, as the boat was already designed for long sailing. “It is designed for ocean sailing and equipped with the products we have been handling and testing on the sea for years. The boat features a comfortable Pilot House that protects against splashes and cold and from which the boat is controlled. The rigging includes a 107% jib , zero tails or gennaker on mainsail and foresail. All maneuvers are deferred to the cockpit, but can also be operated from the mast“.

DAVIDE ZERBINATI’S REPORT OF THE FIRST TAPE TAKEN FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE Aluaka-Stadtship 54AC

The start was tough. The official forecast gave 28 knots max a force 6, strong breeze, but we all knew there was more and there was wave. At the morning broadcast we get a virtual buoy, the staff sends an email, and many will miss this info. The Arc is a rally not a regatta, but many people experience it more that way and the competition is also good for them. The podium is so far all Italian and it is the first time two boats have come in ahead of schedule. Starting well on the line with 2-handed mainsail and 25 kn we soon found ourselves with 35-38 kn and 3.5m wave. On pan radio for rudder breakage. Six boats were withdrawn in one hour. Many started out invelopped and to reduce lost time. The error of many 60 feet. The first gait for 50 miles is a traverse, but many boats cannot hold sea and wind well. We pass the Cats in 3-4 hours, very agitated. At night we tack only with the mainsail with 2 hands, no headsails. I have to pass two stern Cats, the Catana 65 and the racing Ts 42. Past the buoy we go to the slack and late morning the wind is stable at 25 kn and we open the tangoned jib. The always tough wave. The email arrives with the positions are fourth, ah how? Me? We just make the boat go. She goes alone. Skids 5 degrees, tilts a little when the ripple comes. Fly above the others. The log does 9-10-12, we touch good peaks of14.5kn and then 16.50kn, a record.
The night is brightly lit by a beautiful moon. We have been alone since the second day. The Arc sends us the position and we are second overall, behind the Italian Neel with Patrick Phelipon and Marco Cornu aboard. They always tie a knot more than we do. I wonder what the other Neels do. We are told from home that we are going fast, but it is the boat that is going fast, the rest is done by the pilot and a minimum of strategy. The last beat the wind drops, I open everything and with 13kn we make 7.5-8.5kn. I don’t want to raise the gennaker, there are 3 of us on board. However boat ok, two bolts to pull at upper rudder bearing, one broken stick holder, things fixable. We arrive in Mindelo at night, in the last hours there is no wind, and we muddle 3 hours until arrival. Mindelo is not a place to arrive at night, but the staff guides us as an area on the trail. 890 miles, 8.4kn average. Now relaxation and tuning, checks and then sailing in serenity.

Davide Zerbinati

All the info on the ARC HERE

NAVIGATE INFORMED!

To stay up-to-date on all the news from the world of sailing, selected by our editorial staff, sign up for the Sailing Newspaper newsletter! It is semplicissimo, just enter your email below, accept the Privacy Policy and click the “Sign me up” button. You will then receive on your email, twice a week, the best sailing news! It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time, no obligation!