Normandy Channel Race: Beccaria’s dominance, comes Allagrande’s first win

gBeccaria and bloch on arrival. © Jean-Marie LIOT Images #CICNC2023Knowing a bit about Ambrogio Beccaria ‘s competitive history we imagined that a string of second places in a row (Route du Rhum, RORC Caribbean 600, Defi Atlantique), was starting to get to him. He said it on the eve of the event, “Let’s see if we can finally put a first with Allagrande,” and we did. Victory at the Normandy Channel Race comes as the Class 40 racing season gets into full swing, in arguably the most technical race on the schedule, when the Transat Jacques Vabre, the most important ocean race of 2023, is four months away, starting Oct. 29.

Normandy Channel Race: Beccaria domination

Ambrogio Beccaria for the occasion was racing in tandem with Kevin Bloch, a young French sailor, engineer, has already sailed with Allagrande Pirelli and also collaborates with some Imoca 60 teams. The two practically dominated the race, as the Italian Musa 40 remained in the lead for most of the more than 1,000-mile course: starting and finishing in Caen, after rounding the Isle of Wight, then heading back up to Ireland and rounding first Tuskar Rock and then the Fastnet.

Coming out of Cornwall a twist. Allagrande remains in a windless zone, slips to 18th position, but is positioned farther east than the others and hooks the new wind first: from there on a solo, always leading practically to the finish. On the podium in second place were the stainless Ian Lipinski and Legallais with the Delahaye Doguet pair.

Bona sixth

Continuing the great Italian result at Normandy is IBSA’s sixth place finish with Alberto Bona and Pablo Santurde. By now it is no surprise to see Bona in the top Class 40 group; in fact, he has been one of the stars of the regatta always jockeying for a place on the podium.

IBSA is confirmed as one of the fastest Class 40s in the fleet and proved it again in this Normandy Channel Race. The podium, perhaps with another duel against friend and rival Beccaria, would have been the icing on the cake, but the feeling is that we will see more of this in the future. Also arriving in Caen is Pietro Luciani, skipper of Dekuple, currently in 12th position.

Mauro Giuffrè