The freighter Ijzerborg spotted the Class 40 Acrobatics drifting.

On July 9, Alberto Riva’s Class 40 Acrobatica., racing at Quebec-Saint Malo in crew mode, was involved in a collision with the Liberian tanker “Silver Ray.” The accident was violent enough to force Riva and his crew to abandon the boat, rescued by the same tanker with which the collision occurred.

The Class 40 Acrobatics floats

The Milanese skipper never gave up the idea of being able to sight and recover Acrobatica, since there was no certainty of the boat sinking, which remained semi-floating at the last sighting in those days. In recent months, several warnings were issued to ships transiting the Atlantic, in the hope that one of them might sight the Italian Class 40. This is what happened on November 9, when the Dutch freighter

Ijzerborg, as confirmed to us by the Riva team, spotted Acrobatica and took the photo you see, which was then sent to the skipper. The sighting occurred between the Azores and Portugal, with the freighter reporting Acrobatica’s location to the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordinati on Center), which in turn alerted the Milanese skipper. Plans are underway in these hours for an attempt to recover the boat, located in an area about 350 nautical miles from the Azores Islands. An alert had also been issued to Vendée Globe competitors, in case they had crossed it, providing position updates in the meantime. The dynamics of the July 9 accident at the moment from Alberto Riva’s team remains confidential. The Italian Class 40 was sailing in tough conditions, with winds in excess of 35 knots and a very formed sea. The plausible hypothesis is that of a blackout in the instruments of one of the two units that did not allow the time to maneuver to avoid the collision.

Anna Marras, CEO of EdiliziAcrobatica S.p.A.: “The sighting of Acrobatica is something that touches us deeply because this vessel was the last project wanted by Riccardo Iovino, the founder of our company. At present, however, we have no precise information about the condition of the Class 40 and cannot be certain of its location. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Acrobatica team for immediately making themselves available to carry out the necessary operations to locate Acrobatica.”

The Class 40 Acrobatica is a Musa designed by Guelfi – D’Angeli, built by Sangiorgio Marine of Italy. From what can be seen in the photo it seems difficult that the Class 40 can return to racing, to sailing maybe yes, since by now miracles can be worked with composite. In any case, recovery for Alberto Riva would mean closing this chapter once and for all, and hoping to be able to open another one as soon as possible by returning to sailing with a project of his own.

Mauro Giuffrè