The World Sailing Speed Record Council’s ratification will soon make the record set by skipper Giovanni Soldini on Maserati Multi 70’s official, but the trimaran’s crew, comprising Guido Broggi, Sébastien Audigane, Oliver Herrera Perez, and Alex Pell, is already, and rightfully, celebrating its achievement. When it crossed the Tea Route arrival line passing under the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in London on February 23rd, Maserati Multi 70, skippered by Giovanni Soldini, became the new record holder of the Hong Kong to London Tea Route challenge.
Traveling 15.083 nautical miles at an average speed of 17,4 knots, Maserati Multi 70, completed the challenge in 36 days, 2 hours, 37 minutes and 2 seconds, breaking the record previously held by Gitana 13 – the 100ft maxi-catamaran that took 41 days to cover the same route in 2008 – by 5 days and 19 hours.
Giovanni Soldini said after crossing the finishing line: ”We are super happy but also very tired. The last 48 hours have been very tough. Sailing in the Channel upwind with a lot of breeze, a lot of sea and terrible cold (weather). The record went very well, we are very happy with our route. The most difficult part was the last one: with more favorable weather conditions in the Atlantic we could have gained another 3 or 4 days, but that’s okay. Indeed, it could not have been better, technically the boat is perfect. From the last time we put Maserati Multi 70 in a yard, we have sailed more than 19,000 miles and everything is fine onboard, surely there is the work of preparation by Guido and the whole team. An excellent crew”.
Ilona Catani Scarlett