Giovanni Soldini and Pierre Casiraghi set new Monaco to Saint-Tropez speed record of 2h 25m 44s
by Isabelle Andrieux 6 Mar 2021 13:45 PST
Maserati helmed by Giovanni Soldini © Mesi / Yacht Club de Monaco
It was at 12:56:34 precisely that the Multi 70 Maserati helmed by Giovanni Soldini left Monaco along with five other crew, including Yacht Club de Monaco Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi, heading for Saint-Tropez for the Wally Record.
This 48 nautical mile challenge was launched in 1999 by the Monegasque Wally yard in partnership with the Yacht Club de Monaco and Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Speed freaks can also have a crack at the Monaco-Porto Cervo record.
After 2 hours 55 minutes 44 seconds sailing at an average speed of 19.76 knots, Maserati crossed the finish in front of the Portalet tower in Saint-Tropez at 15:22:18, where the record was registered by Georges Korhel, Race Director at the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.
With a length of 21.2m and a 16.8m beam, Maserati can top speeds up to 40 knots and enjoyed ideal weather conditions throughout the challenge with a 15-knot easterly, gusting 25 knots at the start, before backing north-east.
"I am delighted to see Giovanni again. It's always a pleasure to sail with him and test this 70-foot trimaran which has just come out of the yard. We registered speeds over 30 knots during the course, it's just a pity the wind dropped after Cannes. I'm sure Giovanni will smash many records in the future," said Pierre Casiraghi who was welcomed on arrival by the Mayor of Saint-Tropez, Sylvie Siri.
The Multi 70 has set a new record for multi-hulls, previously reserved for monohulls and held by Norwegian Knut Frostad who did it in 3 hours 4 minutes 30 seconds on the 32m ketch Nariida on 20th October 1999.
The record is part of a 500nm tour of tests and trials in the Mediterranean since Maserati left the yard Friday 5th March from La Spezia. "After four months of works, we made so many improvements and innovations and are now beginning a series of tests and adjustments," said Giovanni Soldini.