Transatlantic Beach Cat Record Update: Still no detailed report on Gancia and Miceli’s site. But Hans Bouscholte, part of the crew that set the record Gancia and Miceli broke, has kindly provided a report on his website:

“Sailing from Dakar in Senegal to Guadeloupe in an open catamaran of 20ft is not easy. Trying to break the 1986 record of 18 days and 22 hours by Pradel(Fra) and Laurent(Aus), 3 sailors lost their lives. In 1999 Hans Bouscholte(Ned) and Gerard Navarin(Fra) set a new worldrecord after 4 attempts of mainly French crews. On a modified Inter 20, Bouscholte and Navarin sailed the 2700 miles in 15 days, 2 hours and 26 minutes. On the 9th of january 2005, on their second attempt, Andrea Gancia and Matteo Miceli(ITA), sailing their 20 ft cat Abaco broke this reference in a new Worldrecord(to be ratified by the WSSRC) of 13 days, 13 hours and 58 minutes. Andrea and Matteo were 36 hours, 58 minutes faster than Bouscholte and Navarin.

Good VMG Speed

They left Dakar on the 27th of december with favourable weather, tradewinds and moderate seas. Halfway, the wind got lighter and the Italians had to gybe offen to sail the westerly course. Because of the sunburn, constant manouvres and humidity, Andrea and Matteo had severe wounds on their hands, feet and body. In the last 300 miles, the wind got stronger, 20-25 knots of NE with big 3 meter waves. Exhausted but happy, Gancia and Miceli arrived sundayevening at 21 hours 26 minutes LT in Guadeloupe.

Commentary Hans Bouscholte

Andrea and Matteo made big gains on us in the beginning. We had a big leakage the first night, hitting an unidentified object and after partially repairing the leakage, we had to pump 2 hours a day clearing the water. We also lost time in the manoeuvres, because of big wounds on our hands. In the end we were navigating under floating anchor without any sails for 15 hours because of a tropical storm with 40 knots of wind and 5 metre waves.

It hurts to lose the hard fought record, but it happens sooner or later.

Congratulations to Andrea and Matteo, you sailed very well and fast.”

Thanks, Hans. Very interesting and very sporting…



Bouscholte Plays Beach Cat Bingo: “Dude, I thought we’d be in surfer jams, sipping Mai Tais..”

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