Alberto Bona and the Class40 IBSA: the last phase of preparation for the Transat Québec Saint-Malo is underway

Two weeks to the start of the Transat Québec Saint-Malo, and for Alberto Bona it is time to leave Trinité-sur-Mer (France), where he spent the last month to regain his strength and dedicate himself to his physical and mental preparation in view his departure for Canada.

Thus, he will soon reach Quebec City, where he will meet Boat Captain Pierrot,as well as the Class40 IBSA

“The repair of the hull section that delaminated during the CIC has been carried out perfectly, and in record time”,commented Bona. “Pierrot personally followed every step, updating me in real time: it was as if I were there too. When the boat was being repaired in the shipyard I was constantly in contact, not only with Pierrot, but also with the designer Sam Manuard, who was very helpful, and advised us what to do even though he was busy in Europe with another project”.

The Class40 IBSA is ready, and for Alberto it is time to immerse himself in the pre-regatta spirit, reset the “solo-mode” and enter the “crew-mode”, together with Pablo Santurde del Arco and Luca Rosetti.

“Pablo and I are now well-established, and I am really happy to have the opportunity to sail with him again”,continued our skipper.“As for Luca, it will be our first crew regatta, but there is already a good harmony. As soon as he arrives in Canada we will start training to prepare ourselves as best as possible, test the boat and fully get into the racing mood”.

The training sessions will not only consolidate the team’s harmony, but will be critical in order to test the San Lorenzo River, a new racing field for both Bona and the Class40 IBSA, one which – as shown by the conditions encountered by the shore team during the transfer – presents numerous perils.

“The stretch of the San Lorenzo that we will cover is divided into two, a very navigable first part, practically as wide as the English Channel, where we should find the same dynamics typical of sea stretches; and then the last hundred miles, which are decidedly more complicated, with strong currents and tidal changes”,explained Alberto. “In short, we must study the theory thoroughly, as well as gain hands-on experience, in order to arrive at the start knowing the river and its dynamics well”.

The Class40 IBSA and her crew are therefore ready to face a new crossing, which from Quebec City will take them back to Europe, right to Saint-Malo where it all began – almost three years ago – with the start of the Route du Rhum.