A historic departure for the Bahamas
Saturday November 9, 2024, at 10:25 pm, Alex Pella and his crew left Huelva in Spain to begin the legendary Discovery Route, following in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus. Their goal? To beat the record for the crossing to the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, in less than eleven days and seven hours, set by the MAPFRE crew. The route, over seven thousand kilometers long, represents a human and technical challenge.
An international crew for an iconic multihull
Under the command of Alex Pella, seasoned sailor and ocean record-holder, six team-mates, all experts in navigation, have embarked on this crossing. Among them, names such as Lalou Roucayrol, renowned multihull technician, and Pablo Santurde, experienced navigator, are contributing their know-how to optimize the MaxiCat. This multi-disciplinary team of specialized sailors and technicians is determined to cross the Atlantic while preparing for a particularly demanding round-the-world voyage.
The MaxiCat Victoria: a prototype for racing and durability
The choice of the MaxiCat Victoria, built in France between 1999 and 2000, is in line with our approach to reuse and sustainable performance (Recycle). This legendary multihull, a former Trophee Jules Vernes winner, is both fast and adaptable, with a sail area of up to 990 square meters downwind and a maximum speed of 44 knots. Her design combines lightness and robustness, making her an asset for this transatlantic crossing, but also an ideal laboratory for testing sustainability technologies and practices.
Preparing to turn the world upside down
Beyond this transatlantic record, this crossing is intended to prepare the crew and the catamaran for the ultimate challenge: a westward circumnavigation of the globe, against the prevailing winds and currents. This demanding voyage, nicknamed the "upside-down circumnavigation", requires meticulous preparation and extraordinary endurance. The return crossing from San Salvador to Spain will be an opportunity to test the sailors' stamina and fine-tune the boat's settings.
A tribute to great explorations and sustainable navigation
This project is not just about sport; it's also about history and the environment. By following an emblematic route, Alex Pella's crew is paying homage to maritime history while adopting an environmentally-friendly approach: sustainable food, drinking water produced on board, and limited emissions. This transatlantic crossing thus becomes a symbol of the new challenges that modern sailors wish to meet by reducing their ecological impact.
