The turbo'd Volvo 70 MASERATI (ex-Ericsson)
is attempting to break the trans-Atlantic monohull sailing record
starting at 3:20 AM on Wednesday, May 9th, ahead of a massive Low off
the East Coast. Johnstone cousin, Brad Van Liew, is aboard as Chief
Navigator and Watch Captain. Here's their initial update-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. Starting in front of the Ambrose lighthouse in New York Harbor, the Maserati racing yacht crossed the starting line at 3:20 AM 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. The latest data 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. Continuous updates are also available on Facebook (through Giovanni Soldini’s official page) and Twitter (@giovannisoldini and Brad Van Liew @BradVanLiew).
The latest report from Brad Van Liew, navigator and watch leader- "Life on board is getting chilly and it is wet, but nothing like when we will sail through the North Atlantic cocktail in a couple days."
YouTube video- updated at 1200 hrs EST (1800 hrs UTC)- hauling the mail at 20-22 knots and as of 2200 hrs UTC, they were just five miles off the pace of a 140 foot massive ketch on a "baby 70". Cool. Just keep up that 18.5+ knot pace, boys! Brad Van Liew's Ocean Racing.org website sailing information For more Maserati Sailing information Live real-time record tracking of Maserati
