Cowes to Dinard is the second of three records sought in Maserati’s English Channel racing program.
Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini won in a seagoing duel against Peter Cunningham’s MOD 70 PowerPlay and beat the Channel Record last week. They set sail off Cowes (UK) on 22 April at 9:13:40 GMT and they crossed the finish line off Dinard (FR) at 13:44:29 GMT, sailing 138 miles in 4 hours, 30 minutes and 49 seconds. With an average speed of 30.59 knots this was just under 4 minutes less than the competitor PowerPlay that finished the race with an elapsed time of 4 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds.
The Italian Team’s time is 18 minutes better than the 2015 record set by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson aboard Phaedo. The elapsed times have been collected by the two competing teams; they will have to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Racing Council. Aboard the trimaran, Soldini sailed with a six-man crew: Ambrogio Beccaria, Vittorio Bissaro, Guido Broggi, François Robert, Carlos Hernandez Robayna and Matteo Soldini.
“The first hour was quite slow, we had to gybe five or six times to get out of the Solent. Luckily, once we were in the Channel we took off and we sailed fast as lightning! We crossed the channel very quickly, with an average speed over 35 knots. However, that wasn’t enough to beat PowerPlay, who was also sailing incredibly fast, but what really made the difference was the route: we were extremely careful to the course, especially near the Channel Islands, and that is what made it possible for us to gain those few minutes of advantage. I want to thank not only my incredible Team, but also Peter Cunningham and PowerPlay’s crew, who made the challenge even more exciting.” Soldani gushed in decidedly un-British enthusiasm.
The Cowes to Dinard is the second of the three records in the English Channel in Maserati Multi 70’s racing program: on 16 April the Team conquered the Plymouth to La Rochelle record (12 hours, 15 minutes and 21 seconds). If the weather allows – beware of Neptune’s’ trident – in the next few weeks they will attempt a new challenge, to beat the Fastnet Original Course record (from Cowes to Plymouth, sailing around the Fastnet Lighthouse, south of Ireland), set just a few weeks ago by PowerPlay.
Between challenges, Maserati Multi 70’s Team work with the engineers from the Maserati Innovation Lab. Soldini and his crew analyze the data collected at sea to study and develop new systems to optimize the trimaran’s performance. Soldini explains: “During the winter we installed new electronic components and more performing appendages, but we won’t stop here: Maserati Multi 70 is like a laboratory that’s constantly evolving and we’re always curious to discover new innovations.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Salty Diversions – Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini Break Channel UK-to-France Sail Boat Racing Record
Cowes to Dinard is the second of three records sought in Maserati’s English Channel racing program.
Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini won in a seagoing duel against Peter Cunningham’s MOD 70 PowerPlay and beat the Channel Record last week. They set sail off Cowes (UK) on 22 April at 9:13:40 GMT and they crossed the finish line off Dinard (FR) at 13:44:29 GMT, sailing 138 miles in 4 hours, 30 minutes and 49 seconds. With an average speed of 30.59 knots this was just under 4 minutes less than the competitor PowerPlay that finished the race with an elapsed time of 4 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds.
The Italian Team’s time is 18 minutes better than the 2015 record set by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson aboard Phaedo. The elapsed times have been collected by the two competing teams; they will have to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Racing Council. Aboard the trimaran, Soldini sailed with a six-man crew: Ambrogio Beccaria, Vittorio Bissaro, Guido Broggi, François Robert, Carlos Hernandez Robayna and Matteo Soldini.
“The first hour was quite slow, we had to gybe five or six times to get out of the Solent. Luckily, once we were in the Channel we took off and we sailed fast as lightning! We crossed the channel very quickly, with an average speed over 35 knots. However, that wasn’t enough to beat PowerPlay, who was also sailing incredibly fast, but what really made the difference was the route: we were extremely careful to the course, especially near the Channel Islands, and that is what made it possible for us to gain those few minutes of advantage. I want to thank not only my incredible Team, but also Peter Cunningham and PowerPlay’s crew, who made the challenge even more exciting.” Soldani gushed in decidedly un-British enthusiasm.
The Cowes to Dinard is the second of the three records in the English Channel in Maserati Multi 70’s racing program: on 16 April the Team conquered the Plymouth to La Rochelle record (12 hours, 15 minutes and 21 seconds). If the weather allows – beware of Neptune’s’ trident – in the next few weeks they will attempt a new challenge, to beat the Fastnet Original Course record (from Cowes to Plymouth, sailing around the Fastnet Lighthouse, south of Ireland), set just a few weeks ago by PowerPlay.
Between challenges, Maserati Multi 70’s Team work with the engineers from the Maserati Innovation Lab. Soldini and his crew analyze the data collected at sea to study and develop new systems to optimize the trimaran’s performance. Soldini explains: “During the winter we installed new electronic components and more performing appendages, but we won’t stop here: Maserati Multi 70 is like a laboratory that’s constantly evolving and we’re always curious to discover new innovations.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.