Transat Jacques Vabre and Mini Transat: Beccaria and Rosetti show, all chasing Italians

If we had been told this just a few years ago, no more than 2-3, we would not have believed it, yet today there is an Italian sailboat winning and convincing in the Ocean, such as at the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Mini Transat. We don’t know how it will turn out, and at the moment it is very premature to think about the outcome, but two Italians leading, or fighting for victory, in two transatlantic liners like these at the same time has never been seen.

If we also add that it is a time when the whole Italian ocean sailing movement always credible, with serious projects and important sponsors, but above all with competitive sailors now able to hold their own against the top of world sailing.

As we write Ambrogio Beccaria on the Class 40 Allagrande Pirelli, paired with Nicolas Andrieu, is approaching Cape Finisterre trying to take the lead in the Transat Jacques Vabre. A few thousand miles to the west, Luca Rosetti leads the Mini Transat Series standings after a surgical broadside in the Trade Wind.

Transat Jacques Vabre – Beccaria with the turbocharger

The Milanese started again from where he ended the Le Havre – Lorient prologue of the Transat Jacques Vabre. Ready, set, and Allagrande Pirelli was immediately in the very first positions in the harsh conditions of this start of the race in the Bay of Biscay, lashed by 25-30 knots from the northwest with a sometimes chaotic sea. Finisterre is a crucial passage in the regatta, because it will mark the end of the wide-traverse upwind, with sea against it, and the beginning of a true headway. Allagrande Pirelli is coming out on top in the presence of the mythical Chief. Beccaria had won the Le Havre-Lorient prologue by just over 1 hour ahead of the rest of the fleet, which will be calculated on the final time.

Also fighting for a place in the ranking area that counts is Alberto Bona on IBSA, paired with Pablo Santurde. The Turin native is firmly in the top 5, just a few miles behind Beccaria, in full fight for the podium area, currently third.

Tracking

Mini Transat – Rosetti looks for the big hit

The first leg of the Mini Transat had not been very lucky for Luca Rosetti and the other two Italians, Alessandro Torresani and Francesco Farci. Luca Rosetti ninth, Francesco Farci is 27th, Alessandro Torresani 30th.

In this second one, coming to St. Francois in the Caribbean, the music has changed. Rosetti has been in the top 3 most of the time, and for the past 24 hours has been firmly at the head of the fleet because of his northern option, which is more in phase with the trade wind rotation. Michael Gendebien, winner of the first stage, is a full 160 miles away, almost edged out for the final victory barring an upset. Difficult now to make calculations on the sum of the two legs for Rosetti: there is one thing for sure, to try to win the Mini Transat you need to win this leg 2, and Rosetti seems to have every intention of trying.

Instead, Allessandro Torresani sails around 20th position, Francesco Farci close behind 40th.

Tracking

Mauro Giuffrè