It was truly one of the most exciting races ever. Our C-Cat 48 Gaia took part in the Riva-Montecristo, giving us strong emotions, plot twists and a comeback we will remember for a long time.
After 23 hours and 30 minutes of sailing, we finished fourth, but just a breath away from the leaders: four boats within a minute, separated by just 50 meters at the finish line. A breathtaking finale that made this regatta unique.
We are thrilled with the result because we fought on equal terms with boats that, at least on paper, were better suited to the very light wind conditions we encountered along the route. If we have a touch of regret, it’s only for those two hours, from 3 to 5 in the morning, when we thought a comeback was impossible… but Gaia showed us that nothing is ever decided.
The story of an exciting challenge:
We started on a tight upwind leg with only 3-5 knots: not ideal conditions for Gaia, but thanks to new tuning choices that proved perfect, we stayed with the leading group. At the virtual mark, with a bit more wind and a slightly easier upwind, we even managed to take the lead.
The regatta was shortened at Giglio due to lack of wind, and we reached the island in first place. But in just a few minutes, we slipped to sixth: by analyzing the tracks, we realized that a strong current in the middle slowed us down, while those who chose a wider course found clearer water. A mix of bad luck and overly cautious tactical choices.
When we almost stopped, we pushed close to the coast, just meters from Giglio, chasing every breath of wind: an emotional moment, almost brushing the rocks. Thanks to this bold choice, we climbed back to fourth place, still about a mile behind the top three.
The night was surreal: sunset, the wind dropping to nothing, while the current carried us forward at about 2.5 knots. Then, wind from astern again and the gennaker up. But a problem forced us to stop, and in that moment the three in front managed to catch the breeze and break away, gaining what seemed an unbridgeable lead.
At dawn, everything changed: we found our focus and determination again, fine-tuned every sail, and Gaia responded beautifully, regaining speed and positions. The wind shifted and strengthened, turning the tight upwind leg into a fast reach. Ahead of us, the top three slowed, and we seized the chance.
In the last miles, nature delivered another twist: a big storm on the coast, gusts up to 40 knots, wind shifts. Our rivals struggled to keep control, while we, fighting meter by meter, managed to handle the gusts, pushing over 15 knots.
We approached the coast at incredible speed until, just a few hundred meters from the finish, the wind dropped again. We watched as the first three crossed the line almost simultaneously, separated by just a few seconds, and we finished right behind them in under two minutes, only 200 meters away.
A regatta that will stay in our hearts: Gaia proved character, speed and reliability in difficult conditions, and for us it was a thrilling experience, full of adrenaline, surprises and great satisfaction.