{"id":8027,"date":"2024-07-16T17:32:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T15:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ibsasailing.com\/?p=8027"},"modified":"2024-07-16T17:36:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T15:36:40","slug":"tqsm-the-arrival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibsasailing.com\/en\/tqsm-the-arrival\/","title":{"rendered":"TQSM – The arrival |"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s just after 4:30 pm on July 15 when Alberto Bona, Luca Rosetti and Pablo Santurde del Arco crossed the finish line of the Transat Qu\u00e9bec Saint-Malo<\/em> in sixth position<\/strong>.In the official ranking, however, they close the regatta in seventh place<\/strong>,due to the compensation rightly granted to Antoine Magr\u00e9\u2019s E. Leclerc \u2013 Ville La Grand<\/em>, which came to the rescue of Alberto Riva\u2019s Acrobatica<\/em> and her crew, who sank last July 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less than two hours before arrival, a Southerly wind picked up in Saint-Malo, brushing the port\u2019s outer breakwater \u2013 crowded with people who had gathered there to follow live the crossing of the finish line<\/strong> \u2013 and forcing the crews, after 2,800 miles, to proceed close-hauled along the Breton coast, between rocks and lighthouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Class40 IBSA<\/em> crossed the finish line, and immediately on board<\/strong> a triple hug exploded<\/strong>, crowning a very difficult regatta and the excellent atmosphere between the three sailors, who \u2013 they will recount later \u2013 knew right away how to work as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will take another two hours and three downpours to unlock the locks, return to the port, touch land and finally be able to hug the three sailors, exhausted but satisfied with their great feat. \u201cA very difficult \u2013 and in many ways unprecedented \u2013 regatta<\/em>\u201d, told Alberto<\/strong>. \u201cWe had to chase a lot, but we were always in the game, focused and determined not to let a risky choice like that of going North hold us hostage<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Great North, together with the first day and the first night of navigation along the river, were the absolute protagonists of this regatta: \u201cThe St. Lawrence River was rough<\/em>\u201d, recounted Rosetti<\/strong>;\u201cthe little wind, the currents and the very narrow regatta field were decisive ingredients: the quality of the racers was very high; you couldn\u2019t lose your concentration even for a second<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe choice to go North after Newfoundland<\/em>\u201d, recalled Pablo Santurde del Arco<\/strong>, \u201cwas probably a mistake, but what I really liked was that we didn\u2019t give up and we regained our position mile after mile<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this trial, the psychological component was very important, especially when the race simulation models indicated a potential gap of as much as 400 miles from the leader, while at sea the actual one was already 240 miles. \u201cWe didn\u2019t give up; we found a depression forming<\/em>\u201d, added Alberto<\/strong>, \u201cwe rode it and got back into the game<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Great North gave unprecedented scenarios, a new experience in an almost frozen sea full of life<\/strong>: the descent to the South was accompanied by dozens of pilot whales<\/strong>, which played with the waves created by the boats. In evoking this event, there is a flash in Alberto\u2019s eyes, the memory of something unique, which has already become an experience, a reference to that sea of \u200b\u200bice, a \u201cI had never sailed this far North<\/em>\u201d which is a new element in the history of the Class40 IBSA <\/em>and her crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_vKjlD7O-n0<\/a>