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09.05.2012
Team Maserati Set Sail This Morning to Conquer a Daunting World Record Across the
Atlantic
The extreme challenge will take them into the North Atlantic facing strong winds
and icebergs
New York (May 9, 2012) - This morning at 3:20 a.m. local time, in front of the Ambrose
lighthouse in New York Harbor, the Maserati racing yacht crossed the starting line
and set off to conquer the New York-Cape Lizard (UK) record under a cloudy sky and
looming thunderstorms. The international crew of eight men will sail 2,925 miles
in the North Atlantic Ocean, dangerously close to icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland.
shows several icebergs as far south as 44 degrees North. Maserati is currently
at 40 degrees North and headed northeast at 22 knots. The time to beat is 6 days,
17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds, a world record set in 2003 by British sailor
Robert Miller's monohull Mari Cha IV.
"We have waited for so long, but it was worth it," explained Soldini before leaving
the dock. "This low pressure seems to be the right one to try and break a speed
record as challenging as the North Atlantic one. We will try to ride the tides and
the winds the best we can and reach Great Britain achieving the record. We are confident
and in high spirits."
Giovanni Soldini and his crew face complex challenges. The route is demanding and
often treacherous with strong winds, rough seas, icebergs, and water temperatures
below 2-4 degrees Celsius. The arduous circumstances are compounded by the constant
need to analyze the weather forecasts and make the best strategic choices.
On board Maserati is an international crew of skilled sailors: Giovanni Soldini
(skipper), American Brad Van Liew (navigator and watch leader), Spaniard Javier
de la Plaza (helm, pit), Frenchmen Sebastien Audigane (helm, trimmer) and Ronan
Le Goff (helm, bowman), Italians Guido Broggi (boat captain), Corrado Rossignoli
(bowman), and Brit Tom Gall (second bowman).
The differences between Maserati and the world record holder Mari Cha IV are staggering.
Mari Cha IV is a maxi yacht with a length of 140 feet (double Maserati's 70 foot
hull) and built to beat the most important speed records throughout the world.
While Maserati is high tech and also built for extreme speed, she boasts one-third
the displacement of Mari Cha IV and a single mast in contrast to Mari Cha IV's two
towering masts stretching 160 feet high. Only the current race against time will
tell if the feisty and determined crew on board Maserati can break the amazing
standard set by Mari Cha IV in 2003. Despite what may appear to be an underdog position,
it is important to consider that the sister-ship to Maserati (Ericsson 4) currently
holds the world speed record covering 596.6 nautical miles in 24 hours.
The record attempt can be followed live on Giovanni Soldini and Maserati's website
www.maserati.soldini.it
The site contains news, videos and photos of the lifestyle of crew members on board,
and provides continuous monitoring of the marine weather conditions, as well as
online tracking to check the position and speed of Maserati in real time.
The challenge is being sponsored by Maserati as index partner and inspiration for
the boat's name, by the Swiss bank BSI (Generali Group) and by Generali itself
as co-sponsor.
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