Eighth Place for the Class40 IBSA in the Furious Stage Le Havre-Lorient
“We took crew and boat to Lorient safely, and this is our best result”. This is the hot take of Alberto Bona who, in the night between Monday and Tuesday, at 01:39 am – after 1 day, 11 hours, 58 minutes and 5 seconds – crossed the finish line in eighth place (second among the Italians) in the Le Havre-Lorient “mini stage” of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231031890340/en/
“Mini” only for distance, certainly not for difficulty: “They were some of the wildest miles ever sailed upwind, with the risk of getting hurt and compromising the stability of the boat just before the longer stage of the regatta”, said Bona. “We could have gone a little faster, but in those conditions and at that moment the boat and us were the priority; so, a route close to the coast and conservative with the filling of the ballasts, so as not to crash the boat, which was going with the current and upwind at 13 knots, crashing into the incoming waves”.
Therefore, it’s been a complex and dangerous upwind: “We ate and rested very little; it was difficult to make any movement, both in the cockpit and below deck; the conditions were certainly worse than the Fastnet, because there we suffered for six hours, here for over 24”.
Alberto Bona and Pablo Santurde del Arco started fast, with a fourth position at the clearance buoy under the La Hève lighthouse: “We accumulated a bit of delay due to our first choices, staying close to the coast, where we were protected from the current. It was a way to keep the boat safe: the steep waves against the current were very dangerous, so much so that Ian Lipinski dismasted a mile in front of us due to the very same conditions. I am also very sad for Alberto Riva, who had to give up the next stage due to a broken leg, which he suffered while going to the bow for some technical manoeuvres. I send him a big hug”.
In the second stage, the Class40 IBSA will have to make up for its 1 hour, 52 minutes and 46 seconds delay from the leader – the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria, to whom compliments go out from the entire IBSA team – but “I don’t consider it a serious problem on such a long regatta like the one ahead of us; we are super motivated”, commented again Alberto Bona , who today will carry out a series of tests with Pablo to confirm the good state of health of the boat and then will use the time to rest, after these 24 hours of great physical and mental strain. “We never let go; so many choices to make, so many manoeuvers to perform, so many turns – and therefore so much weight shifting inside, to keep the boat correctly trimmed”, he concluded.
The Class40 IBSA covered a good part of the race on the left bank of the Channel, keeping very low, with the aim of being favoured at the exit. In Biscay, with a wider angle, the boat reached indeed excellent speeds and recovered many positions in a few hours. Now it’s a matter of regaining strength, doing some checks on board, facing Wednesday’s storm while staying warm indoors and waiting for the start, which – according to Bona – won’t be before Monday.
“This first stage”, commented Giorgio Pisani, Vice President IBSA Group and Project leader of Sailing into the Future. Together , “was truly a test of technique and courage. Alberto and Pablo are two expert navigators in whom we place the utmost trust; we were certain that they would manage to find the right compromise between sporting goals and protection of the crew and the boat, and so they did. The entire IBSA is at their side, in this last oceanic adventure of the 2023 season, which as always we follow with passion and admiration”.
|
|
|
THE PROJECT: Sailing into the Future. Together started in January 2022; the partnership between IBSA and Alberto Bona was born on common bases and values, and aims to use sailing as a vehicle for corporate communication, towards the market and the nautical world. Ingenuity, courage, innovation, responsibility are elements that unite IBSA and Alberto, and the oceanic challenge, in addition to the sporting race, also metaphorically represents the company’s history, philosophy and vision, which are always oriented towards the future and are part of a path that brings IBSA increasingly closer to the topics of environmental and social sustainability, inclusion and integration. The Route du Rhum was the first stage of the three-year programme Sailing into the Future. Together, which the Swiss pharmaceutical company started with Bona and which continues in 2023 with a busy calendar of regattas, including the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre. |
|
|
|
THE BOAT: The boat with is a latest generation Class40, with a scow bow. Designed by French naval architect Sam Manuard and built by the JPS Production shipyard, the boat is a Mach 5 model, the latest evolution of Manuard’s Class40. |
|
The characteristics: rounded bow, created with the aim of increasing performance while running; water lines and appendages designed to make the hull an all-round fast even upwind; large and protected cockpit to face navigation in the most comfortable and safe positions possible. The first international regatta in which Alberto Bona participated with the Class40 IBSA was the Route du Rhum 2022. |
|
|
|
THE SKIPPER: Alberto Bona is from Turin, and has a degree in philosophy. As a university student, he won the Panerai trophy with Stormvogel, fast ULDB and historic boat with which he crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, winning the ARC with a New Zealand crew. In 2012 he took part in the Minitransat, finishing 5th, one of the best Italian results ever in this category. In 2015, he switched to the prototype category Mini 6.50 with Promostudi La Spezia: he won the Italian championship and finished second in the ocean crossing Les Sables-Azores. In 2017 he discovered the Class40: on Giovanni Soldini’s former Telecom Italia, he participated in the Transat Jacques Vabres, where he was forced to withdraw when he was in sixth place. In 2019 he was aboard the Maserati Multi 70 trimaran, one of the fastest boats in the world, where he practiced on the foils before moving on to the Figaro Beneteau 3, aboard which he participated in the Solitaire; the only Italian registered, he finished 7th among the rookies in the first year and 16th overall in 2020. In 2021 he won the Italian offshore team title and the Europeans in mixed doubles aboard the Figaro 3. In 2022 he started the new project, with the support of the IBSA Group: with the new Class40 IBSA, he participated in the Route du Rhum 2022, finishing in eighth position. |
|
|
|
IBSA: IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA) is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical Company, founded in 1945 in Lugano. Today, its products are present in over 90 Countries on 5 continents, through the Company’s 18 subsidiaries located in Europe, China, and the United States. The company has a consolidated turnover of 900 million CHF, and employs over 2,200 people between headquarters, subsidiaries and production sites. IBSA holds 90 families of approved patents, plus others under development, as well as a vast portfolio of products, covering 10 therapeutic areas: reproductive medicine, endocrinology, pain and inflammation, osteoarticular, aesthetic medicine, dermatology, uro-gynaecology, cardiometabolic, respiratory, consumer health. It is also one of the largest operators worldwide in the area of reproductive medicine, and one of the world’s leaders in hyaluronic acid-based products. IBSA has based its philosophy on four pillars: Person, Innovation, Quality and Responsibility. |
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231031890340/en/
Contact information
Ornella Reccia – ornella.reccia@noesis.net – mob. +39 329 393 1922
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Access Advance Announces HEVC Advance and VVC Advance Pricing through 203022.7.2025 03:00:00 EEST | Press release
Access Advance LLC (“Advance”) today announced the results of several significant decisions by the Licensors in both the HEVC Advance and VVC Advance Patent Pools. Both patent pools opted to maintain their current royalty rates and caps for Licensees who sign before December 31, 2025, and to extend an incentive that aligns the royalty caps for Advance’s Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement (“MCBA”) and the VVC Advance Patent Pool for Licensees who sign the MCBA during the same period. The result is that Licensees who join the HEVC Advance program, gaining access to more than 27,000 patents, on or before December 31, 2025, can lock in current rates and caps through 2030. This protection applies both to ongoing royalty obligations and calculation of royalties due for past sales. Additionally, both current and new HEVC Advance Licensees who join the VVC Advance Patent Pool and execute the MCBA by December 31, 2025, will enjoy MCBA royalty caps that match the royalty caps for the VVC Advance pro
MayMaan Launches Engine Integration Program to Accelerate Clean Combustion Deployment and Market Adoption21.7.2025 20:34:00 EEST | Press release
MayMaan, a scale-up innovator, transforming combustion technology, is announcing a robust and scalable partnership model to support the transition to more efficient power systems across global industries whilst cutting harmful emissions such as NOx and SOx to levels that are practically immeasurable. At the heart of MayMaan’s offering is its proprietary AquaStroke® technology, which runs on a revolutionary 70% water and 30% ethanol fuel blend. This patented system delivers high torque and reliability while dramatically reducing emissions—offering a compelling alternative to diesel engines and electrification overhauls. “Our technology is more than a breakthrough—it’s a platform designed to help others succeed,” said Doron Shmueli, Founder and CEO at MayMaan. “From manufacturers to distributors, we provide a full solution—ready to integrate, easy to scale, and built for the energy demands of tomorrow.” Tailored Solutions for Industry Leaders MayMaan’s clean combustion platform is now av
Armis Named a Leader in Unified Vulnerability Management Solutions, Q3 2025 Evaluation21.7.2025 18:25:00 EEST | Press release
Armis, the cyber exposure management & security company, today announced that it has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Unified Vulnerability Management Solutions, Q3 2025. In this Forrester Wave™, Armis is ranked a Leader and achieved the highest score in the Current Offering category. According to the report, “Armis’ strategy is grounded in proactive security principles… Armis is an excellent fit for either beginner organizations starting their proactive security journey or mature organizations that need leading vulnerability response capabilities.” “I believe Armis stood out as a Leader because Armis CentrixTM is different – it’s a platform built to help organizations reduce cyber risk, not just report on it,” said Yevgeny Dibrov, CEO and Co-Founder of Armis. “We are redefining what security should look like in a connected world, helping organizations move from passive defense to proactive control so that they can take action before there’s any impact on their environment.
DevvStream Completes $10M Initial Funding to Launch $300M Asset-Backed Digital Infrastructure and Sustainability Strategy21.7.2025 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
DevvStream Corp. (Nasdaq: DEVS) (“DevvStream” or the “Company”), a leading carbon management firm specializing in the development, investment, and sale of environmental assets, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for the issuance of up to (US)$300 million in senior secured convertible notes (“Senior Notes”), advancing its strategic initiative to build a blockchain-based treasury and launch a tokenization platform for sustainability-linked infrastructure. The securities purchase agreement provides for the issuance of up to (US)$300 million in Senior Notes with Helena Partners, which issuances will be funded in multiple tranches. An initial funding of (US)$10 million was completed on July 18, 2025. Key Highlights: Under the agreement, DevvStream will allocate 75% of the net proceeds (70% of the initial tranche) toward the purchase of liquid digital assets that offer 24/7 liquidity, serve as non-correlated stores of value, and may be used as collateral
McCauley Propeller Systems High-Performance C780 Propeller Now Factory Standard for New Beechcraft King Air 360 Customers21.7.2025 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
McCauley Propeller Systems, a division of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced its C780 propeller, which had previously been optional for factory installation, is now standard for all new commercial customers of the Beechcraft King Air 360. The first King Air 360 equipped with the propeller recently rolled out of production at Textron Aviation’s factory in Wichita, Kansas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250720080635/en/ McCauley Propeller Systems high-performance C780 propeller now factory standard for new Beechcraft King Air 360 customers (Photo Credit: McCauley Propeller Systems) "As a leading full-line propeller manufacturer, being featured on the factory line of the legendary Beechcraft King Air 360 underscores our commitment to excellence," said Jason Hull, vice president and general manager, McCauley Propeller Systems. “The C780 offers a sophisticated and durable de
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom