At 1:30 pm the legendary cannon shot of the Royal Yacht Squadron marked the start of the Class40 IBSA’s Rolex Fastnet Race, with around twenty knots of wind, contrary current, steep waves, showers and 17°C. On board with Alberto Bona Francesca Clapcich, winner of the Ocean Race, Andrea Caracci, adoptive Monfalcone navigator, and team manager Luca Bertacchi, all ready for the epic battle.
As expected, the start was very demanding, so much so that 8 of the 22 Class40s, including IBSA, made an early departure. Alberto Bona attempted a last minute return to the line, which – although successful – in this regatta is not considered amends: the Italian team thus begins Fastnet with an uphill start and a penalty that will add two hours to the total time. In the water, the Class40 IBSA held up very well the first three hours of the race, arriving in front of the Needles in the first positions. Afterwards, the fleet split in half, based on the tactical choice: some crews chose to sail near the English coast, others – like the one led by Bona – more in the centre of the English Channel, choosing the left side closest to the Needles, potentially windier and with more waves, but also with a more favourable current.
“The first hours of sailing along the Solent are very difficult and these are precisely the conditions you don’t wish for in a regatta: it’s imperative not to suffer any damage in conditions where you have wind and current from opposite directions, annoying waves and a bumping boat” – commented Alberto Bona before the departure.
A race with many strategic way points, such as the difficult passage in front of Land’s End near the Cornovaglia, with areas closed to navigation, others full of spectators ready to celebrate the exploit and still harsh weather conditions up to the Fastnet rock in the south of Ireland, where the leaders should find less wind, and then finally a speedy descent downwind.
