This Wednesday 23rd November at 16 h 38 min 48 sec (local time) - 21 h 38 min 48 sec Paris time -, Ambrogio Beccaria crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre of the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe in second place. His race time is 14 days 7 hours 23 minutes 48 seconds. The skipper of Allagrande - Pirelli sailed the 3,542 miles of the course between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre at a speed of 10.31 knots on the great circle route (the direct route). He actually sailed 4,041.06 miles at an average speed of 11.77 knots. He took a magnificent second place, after a hard-fought battle with Corentin Douguet, which intensified as the miles went by on the approach to Guadeloupe. In the end, the Italian climbed to second place on the podium and was 4 hours 15 minutes 8 seconds behind the winner in Class40, Yoann Richomme.
Bravissimo Ambrogio !
What a race! At 31 years of age, the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria has left his mark on this Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe. And for good reason, the skipper of Allagrande-Pirelli, already known for his victory in the 2019 Mini-Transat, has quickly found in Class40 a circuit commensurate with his talent, where the art of racing at the highest level is mixed with that of taking charge of an innovative boat. After having had a taste of the Class40 on board the very first 40-foot scow, this type of revolutionary boat recognisable by its rounded bow, Ambrogio, a lover of strong sensations and speed, was won over. Alongside Ian Lipinski, he set the Class40 24-hour speed record in 2021 with a score of 421 miles covered at an average speed of 17.4 knots. The Milanese, who did not yet have a sponsor, then set about designing and building the first 100% Italian ocean racing boat! A major challenge that he took up through his participation in this Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. His Class40, born from the drawing boards of his naval architect friend Gianluca Guelfi, did not go unnoticed among the 30 new boats present on the starting line in Saint-Malo. Long rudders and a steerable bowsprit are some of the new features that distinguish Alllagrande-Pirelli from the thirty or so scows gathered this year. But the boat is brand new. Launched at the end of last August, it was only at the beginning of October that Ambrogio, who lives and trains in Lorient, qualified for the starting line. Minus one! And the few days of delay gained at the pontoon in Saint-Malo due to the postponed start were not too much to do to finish preparing and getting his brand new boat ready for this transatlantic race, which is renowned for its demanding level.
On the water, the fiery Italian will impose himself from the start as one of the most faithful leaders of the race at the front. 15th as he rounded Cape Fréhel, he quickly made his way to the front of the rankings and never left them. After passing the Azores, while other solid solo sailors were experiencing serious problems, such as Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF), who was forced to retire to repair structural problems, the race took on all the trappings of an oceanic duel with Corentin Douguet (Queguiner-Innoveo). Only a handful of miles separate these two sailors, who are exchanging the position of runner-up in the wake of the leader as positions are taken. Ambrogio, who is experiencing air problems, is nevertheless getting the best out of his boat. "The sensations are magical. It's a plane. It's fast in all points of sail," he confided yesterday as the battle with his direct rival intensified in the final stretch towards the Tête-à-l'Anglais. Since then, Ambrogio hasn't given up anything. Better still, he has consolidated his lead over the third-placed boat and above all achieved the remarkable feat of drastically reducing the gap with Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), the big winner in Class40, one of the fleets that has been hardest hit by the violence of the frontal passages. The skipper of Allagrande-Pirelli, with his brand new boat, managed the feat of getting through the drops of a serious damage to deserve this place of honour on the podium in Pointe-à-Pitre. Bravissimo Ambrogio!
Source: OC Sport Pen Duick
