Alberto Bona and the Class40 IBSA under the Statue of Liberty: fifth place at the Transat CIC

Extremely harsh weather conditions and – consequently – a series of damages to the boat characterised the entire race, but a magnificent dawn welcomed Alberto, who on May 11 at 4:00 am, New York time, made his official entry into the Upper Bay, running under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and ending his voyage with an iconic passage in front of the Statue of Liberty.

Arriving at the mooring after a two-hour parade, with the skyline of New York skyscrapers as a backdrop and the American flag tied to the stay, Alberto was welcomed by the technical team and the IBSA team. Hugs, congratulations and toasts: an apt conclusion for such a difficult and tiring undertaking.

Worn out but satisfied, Bona said: “It’s been a very tough race. A real feat: at times I sailed in conditions I had never experienced before. I had to react to many difficulties linked to a series of small failures, which put me to the test. I am proud of this result: crossing the finish line of the Transat CIC is worth a lot to me”.

The Transat CIC, the first regatta of the 2024 season of the project Sailing into the Future. Together, is much more than a sporting competition: it’s a metaphor for the commitment and determination necessary to achieve great goals, as well as the ability to know how to head for the future, sailing new seas, beyond the therapeutic field, beyond the cure.

“When we inaugurated the third season of this project”, stated Giorgio Pisani, IBSA Group Vice President and Project Leader, “we emphasised that one of the key words would have been “courage”. And so it was! Bona had to overcome many difficulties, finding the inner strength to always be concentrated, to cope with breakdowns in extreme weather conditions. From Alberto’s exploits we can draw profound inspiration for our work: knowing how to respond effectively to difficulties, without ever giving up”.

After a few hours of well-deserved rest, Alberto met the collaborators of IBSA USA, who had been preparing the welcome for the Class40 IBSA for days. In the end, the regatta awards ceremony was held on the ship Wavetree, moored in front of the South Street Seaport Museum in New York, a few steps from the Brooklyn Bridge.

The time dedicated to celebrations is always too little. After a short session of remise en forme of the hull, damaged by the extreme conditions of this crossing, our heads and hearts immediately turn to the next adventure, with the transfer to Canada of the Class40 IBSA and the preparation for the Quebec Saint-Malo, starting on June 30 from Quebec City.