Atlantica Race for Cruise 2024: triumph for the C Cat 38 Bellamossa Città di Fiumicino

The adventure of the Bellamossa Città di Fiumicino, the C Cat 38 of the Guardigli team, ended on a high note as it crossed the finish line in second place in real time at 4:53 PM on December 12th, after covering the 2,838 miles of the Atlantic Race for Cruise 2024. The final rankings will take into account handicap adjustments and engine hours, potentially bringing pleasant surprises.

Departing last summer from the port of Fiumicino, directly from the Comar Yachts shipyard, Massimo and Flavia Guardigli, together with Alessandro Guardigli, Cristiana Monina, and their friend Giuseppe Cattani, reached Gran Canaria to take on the Atlantic challenge—the ARC—which began on November 24th. From there, they sailed to St. Lucia in the Caribbean.

A Strategic Start

Despite the long course, the team approached the race with determination right from the start. With an upwind breeze at the outset, they maintained a solid pace despite the boat’s fixed keels. “As long as the wind held, we sailed well,” recounts Massimo Guardigli. However, during the first night, the wind dropped significantly, prompting many crews to head towards Cape Verde, using their engines as permitted by the race regulations.

The Bellamossa, with limited fuel autonomy, opted for a more conservative strategy. “We prioritized sailing, using the engine for less than 20 hours overall. Cape Verde was out of reach, so we headed straight for St. Lucia,” explains Guardigli. Even in light winds, the mainsail and gennaker ensured good performance. But it was with the arrival of the trade winds, blowing at 20-25 knots, that the yacht truly excelled. By hoisting the spinnaker, they quickly gained positions, eventually opening up a 50-mile lead over the second-place boat.

Challenges and Open-Sea Solutions

Not everything went smoothly. A torn spinnaker, coupled with lighter trade winds at 14 knots, forced the crew to experiment with new sail configurations. “We tested several setups, from the classic wing-on-wing to running the gennaker dead downwind, which yielded the best results,” says Guardigli.

The challenges did not dampen the team’s spirit, as evident in videos posted from onboard. Morale remained high with activities such as mahi-mahi fishing, enjoying onboard delicacies prepared by Giuseppe, making yogurt and ricotta, and even yoga and Pilates sessions on the coach roof.

Performance and Comfort: A Winning Combination

“The yacht is a perfect balance of speed and ease of handling,” Guardigli emphasizes. “Even with cross-seas and winds at 25 knots, the Bellamossa handled every situation reliably, showing exceptional stability.” Even during critical moments, such as when a steep wave broke over the bow, the yacht maintained control without sustaining damage.

Comfortable and safe, the C Cat 38 exceeded expectations in many aspects. Now, the team, who feared the wind might drop at the last moment and cost them positions, awaits the official confirmation of their result.

A memorable achievement, celebrating the skill, courage, and passion for sailing of the Bellamossa Città di Fiumicino team.