For the Class 40 IBSA the Transat Jacques Vabre ended with an important third place. Thursday, November 23, at 3:09 pm local time (7:09 pm in Europe), after 18 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds of navigation and 5,466 miles actually sailed at an average of 12.1 knots, in Fort de France, on the Caribbean island of Martinique, Alberto Bona and Pablo Santurde del Arco crossed the finishing line of the second leg of the regatta, which had started on November 6 from Lorient.
Adding the times of the first stage – the 300-mile Le Havre-Lorient – the Class40 IBSA gets on the podium of the most important and challenging transoceanic regatta of the season. A result earned and built mile after mile; a close duel full of twists, storms, weak trade winds and a great run to the South.
“An important result, in one of the most difficult regattas I have ever participated in”, stated Bona upon arrival. “We had all possible weather conditions, from storm to calm; we steered manually for hours, so as to have a more sensitive touch than the autopilot; we changed direction by gybing for a countless number of times – therefore moving two hundred kilos inside the boat each time. Third place is an objective achieved. Getting on this podium is a great result for us: we had a great regatta! Thanks to IBSA, which welcomed us here with uncommon enthusiasm, awaiting our arrival and celebrating this podium with us”.