Giancarlo Pedote prepares for the ArMen Race Uship
by Giancarlo Pedote 30 May 01:23 PDT
30 May 2019
Imoca Prysmian - Giancarlo Pedote © Francois Van Malleghem
Ten days on from his brilliant third place in the Bermudes 1000 Race, an event that counts towards the IMOCA Globe Series and serves as a qualifier for the Vendée Globe, Giancarlo Pedote is preparing to take part in the ArMen Race Uship.
The race, which sets sail on Thursday at 14:00 hours local time in the Baie de Quiberon, does not present any particular challenges, but it is still gathering together eight 60-foot IMOCAs. As a result, the skipper of Prysmian Group couldn't miss the opportunity to hook up with his playmates again, get in some more practice and continue to discover his steed and also the course, a rich and varied 320-mile circuit starting and finishing in La Trinité-sur-Mer, via the Penmarc'h headland, the Glénan archipelago and the islands of Belle-Ile and Ile d'Yeu. In short, the perfect way to move things forward and progress.
This Thursday, no fewer than 185 boats will line-up for the start of the ArMen Race Uship 2019, includingeight IMOCAs. "It promises to be a battle royal", beams Giancarlo Pedote, who kind of decided at the last minute that he would participate in the event.
"It's a short turnaround time to recover from the Bermudes 1000 Race but it's always good to make the most of any opportunities that come our way to get out on the water and have some close-contact racing", notes the skipper of Prysmian Group who offers visibility at the ONG Electriciens sans Frontières. Giancarlo will be participating in the event with Philippe Echassoux, Paolo Bordogna and Aymeric Chappellier, second in the last edition of the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe in Class40 and recent winner of the Normandy Channel Race.
"The idea is naturally to rack up the miles to test the boat and continue getting to know her, as well as to have some fun", explained the Italian sailor, who is already familiar with the race having posted a debut performance in the 2014 edition in the Class40 category.
Working and racking up the miles
"I know that it's an interesting course punctuated with a series of obstacles. This year, we're going to have to deal with conditions associated with a high-pressure system. That equates to some tricky sections, as well as some local effects associated with the site and the breezes", explains Giancarlo, who's expecting some action-packed racing as a result, and above all a great match.
"It will enable me to work on the speed and seek out some slightly different trimming possibilities. It'll be a great opportunity to start to come to some initial conclusions regarding the shapes of our future sails, observe the choices made by the other sailors and see what compromises need to be made", explained the sailor in his constant quest for performance.
"What beats confrontation for upping your game?", asks the skipper of Prysmian Group rhetorically, keen to highlight all the elements he wants to work on in this race, but of course his competitive spirit dictates that he wouldn't pass up the chance to secure a win should the opportunity come his way.
"The boat is well prepared so I'm setting sail quietly confident and with the desire to do the best I can as ever", notes Giancarlo Pedote, who will be able to hook up once again with the bulk of his rivals from the Bermudes 1000 Race, including Sam Davies, Arnaud Boissières, Manuel Cousin, Fabrice Amedeo, Stéphane Le Diraison and Damien Seguin. Watch this space.