“Alla Grande Pirelli” first in the Transat Jacques Vabre
Before Ambrogio Beccaria, only one other Italian had conquered the waters between Le Havre and the Island of Martinique. Only Giovanni Soldini in 2007 managed to beat the French mariners, historic masters of ocean sailing, in the “coffee route”. Thus, the achievements of Beccaria, at the helm of “Alla Grande Pirelli”, grow by another gold, confirming his abilities as a navigator able to interpret the skies and read the wind. But it is also about the quality of the boat that Ambrogio dreamed of for many nights until making it a reality. “Alla Grande Pirelli” is a Class 40 which embodies sport's future, with innovations that make it fly over the whatever without sacrificing control in the most difficult conditions. Because “Power is nothing without control”, as written on its sails.
It took 18 days, 12 hours and 21 minutes. Beccaria and Andrieu, already winners of the first leg, took the final victory, given by the tally of the two legs: the first, departing from Le Havre (Normandy) on 29 October, finishing at Lorient (Brittany) and 350 miles long; the second, departing 6 November from France and 5,381 miles long. It was impossible, because of weather conditions, to complete the crossing in one go but, notwithstanding it's being split in two, there was no lack of spectacle at sea. "It was a heart pounding regatta, with a completely open final with the southerners and Beccaria prevailing in the end. We are super happy! Congratulations for this fantastic regatta to him and all the Italians competing in Class40s". said Giovanni Soldini, in fact.
Ambrogio Beccaria, after winning the Normandy Channel Race in 2023 and the 40th Malouine Lamotte, brings home another significant victory for Italian oceanic sailing and consolidates his position as the strongest sailor of his generation: “We are extremely happy about this win!” said the Milanese sailor at the finish line. “I consider the Transat Jacques Vabre the ‘regatta for adults.' For me, it was the first important win since the Mini-Transat in 2019, which however is more for amateurs. Here we are at the Olympus of oceanic sailing. I am most satisfied by the way we won: ‘Alla Grande' – Pirelli is a rocket, we were strong and made the right choices. The final was a real thriller but we made it.”
Setting off in eighth position, “Alla Grande Pirelli” climbed to the head of the fleet in just 24 hours. The first days were challenging: winds peaking at up to 30 knots and a fishing net tangled around keel caused Beccaria and Andrieu to lose more than 10 places. Once the net was removed, they managed to regain the lead. After passing Cape Finisterre and coming down the coast of Portugal traversing two fronts, “Alla Grande Pirelli”, together with the other Class40s, moved through the Canary Islands. At this point, the fleet split into two groups: one group towards the northern route, the other going south. “Alla Grande – Pirelli” was among the latter: “it was a very difficult choice, of which we were uncertain until the last minute. It is always more about managing risks that a straight-forward strategic decision. The synoptic map indicated that the trade wind would at a certain point stop, so it made sense to arrive from the south, meaning the zone were the trade wind is usually permanent”. After a first leg characterized by incredibly tough weather conditions, with winds up to 35-40 knots, the second saw weather that was unstable and vey different from the forecasts, particularly during the last part of the race.
