Kito de Pavant, partnered for the first time with Mexican Alex Bravo, won the Roma Per Due crossing the line shortly after midnight on Thursday, April 14, 2022. This is his first success aboard HBF - Reforest'Action this year, and his second, counting his victory in the RORC Caribbean 600 in February. This is a perfect start to his season before he returns to competition in two weeks, on the Corsica Med.
Listening to Kito de Pavant recount each of his adventures at sea in the Mediterranean, there is plenty to be envious of. The Roma Per Due, his first race of the season, was no exception to the rule. In "very good" conditions - "even if the nights are still a bit cool for my taste", he explains - the skipper from the Occitan region didn't miss a beat. Launched on Sunday at 10:00 am, this 550-mile loop to the Aeolian Islands from Riva di Traiano, 80 km from Rome, has been "splendid" according to him, "magnificent" according to his co-skipper Axel Bravo.
A "match within a match" full of lessons
Kito mentions in no particular order "the small island of Ventotene" off Naples, the Aeolian archipelago "as beautiful as ever, with Stromboli spitting fire at regular intervals". Even the calm, so characteristic and classic in this sea, finds favor in his eyes. He calls it "our dear Mediterranean wind chill", smiling, to evoke these last 40 miles to battle before the finish line.
In this majestic setting, he had to spare no effort against the other Class40, Fullsave, owned by Jean-Pierre Balmes. "At the start, a good northerly flow propelled us under spinnaker at the head of the fleet and allowed us to pass in 2nd position, all classes combined, at Ventotene Island. Then the wind died down and the "intense" battle with Fullsave continued until the finish line was approached, at the end of a laborious final day.
The "match within the match" was won by HBF - Reforest'Action, the symbol of a job well done. Of course, there wasn't much competition, but it was interesting to face Jean-Pierre Balmes," Kito said. His Class40 is the sistership of our boat, they have made the same transformations as we have, and it allows us to learn a lot from being face to face.
Alex Bravo, an accelerated learning process
The race was also a discovery for Alex Bravo, who was competing in his first Class40 race. It's not easy to master all the technical vocabulary, especially as French is not my mother tongue. But sailing with Kito is a chance and it is precious to accumulate this experience with him.
We hadn't sailed together before and there were lots of little adjustments to make throughout the race," Kito continues. But it went well, I hope it will be beneficial for him in the future. More than ever, this adventure has made Alex want to race around the world in Class40 next year, aboard a monohull that he should get back next fall.
Kito, for his part, has just begun this great marathon that will take him to the Route du Rhum, which will start on November 6, bound for Guadeloupe. In two weeks, he will take part in the Corsica Med from Marseille. This time, he will be associated with the Italian Pietro Luciani. "It's a very international start to the season," says Kito, who also knows that the panorama of the race in Marseille will be as majestic as that of the Roma Per Due.
Source: Press Kito de Pavant
The Roma per Due was to be the first race of the Mediterranean Trophy. Unfortunately, it could not be taken into account, as only 2 Class40s participated.
