Alex Pella’s ‘Maxicat Victoria’ breaks the Discovery Route record
- Today, Tuesday 10 December, at 8 hours, 23 minutes and 48 seconds, the ‘Maxicat Victoria’ arrived in San Salvador, Bahamas.
- They have broken the record by completing the journey in 9 days, 17 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds.
Crew celebrating the record
Tuesday, 10 December 2024.
Today, Monday 10th December, at 8 hours, 23 minutes and 48 seconds, (peninsular time) the ‘Maxicat Victoria’, of ocean sailor Alex Pella, crossed the finish line in San Salvador, one of the islands of the Bahamas archipelago and did so in 8 days, 11 hours, 7 minutes and 3 seconds. The first leg of this route, Huelva-La Gomera, was completed in 1 day, 18 hours, 24 minutes and 38 seconds. In this way, they managed to beat the record for the Discovery Route by completing it in 9 days, 17 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds. The difference with ‘Mapfre’, which currently held the record, was 1 day, 13 hours, 18 minutes and 59 seconds.
Image: Alex y Alberto
We have come here very fast, with very good trade winds, since we left La Gomera. The experience has been very good, the boat has worked wonderfully and so has the crew. It has allowed us to get to know each other better. It has been an important challenge, as we were very demanding with ‘Mapfre and it has been very exciting to achieve it’, said Alex Pella on arrival. The crew of ‘Maxicat Victoria’ is made up of Lalou Roucayrol, Alejandro Cantero, Alberto Muñoz, Pablo Santurde, Pilar Casares and Manuel Maqueda.
The Discovery Route is the original route of Christopher Columbus’ first crossing of the Atlantic. It was the first of four voyages made by Christopher Columbus. It was the beginning of one of the world’s greatest milestones: the discovery of a new continent. And today, it is also the classic route for people crossing from Europe to America.
Next challenge: round-the-world record to the West
Throughout 2024, the Desafío Victoria project has been preparing its main challenge, the round-the-world race to the West. The team has managed to beat the three proposed records: the round Menorca, the round Spain and the Route of Discovery. ‘With all these tests we have learned a lot, both about the boat and the crew, and now we are ready for the next challenge, the Elcano Oceanic Trophy, which is the round the world record to the West. A challenge of greater difficulty, a 100-day route, with which we want to send out the message that things can be done differently, a round the world race to sail around the world’.
Alberto Muñoz, tripulante del Maxicat Victoria
Victoria Challenge
The Victoria Challenge project has three pillars: sporting, circular and global. Circumnavigating the planet westwards is not only a human and sporting challenge, but also a race against the clock to change our mentality and the future of the planet. Hence the fact that the boat chosen to take on the challenge is reused; the energies that drive it are renewable; the food on board is sustainable; the water is purified; and its commitment to minimising our carbon footprint and the waste generated throughout the project is non-negotiable.
The Maxicat Victoria is a legendary ocean-going multihull, built in France, with a length of 33.5 metres, a beam of 17.5 metres and a mast height of 42.6 metres.
Festina, Qualitas Energy e IDOM global sponsors of the Victoria Challenge
The watch brand Festina is the main sponsor and official timekeeper of the Desafío Victoria since the beginning. ‘At Festina we joined this ambitious project not only because of the sporting component, but also because of its deep commitment to sustainability and care for the environment. We are proud that our watches are witnesses to the determination of sailors like the renowned Alex Pella and mark every second of this great challenge,’ says Miguel Rodriguez, founder and president of Festina Group.
The project is also supported by the engineering group IDOM and Qualitas Energy, a global investment and management platform specialising in renewable energy, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure investment.
Photographs Delphine Trentacosta
Responsible for communications for Desafío Victoria:
Desirée Tornero
desiree@aguaysalcomunicacion.com
More information at:
From ‘Bluewater Sailors’ we offer our sincere congratulations to Alex Pella and the entire Desafío Victoria team for the great success of having broken the record of the ‘Route of Discovery’.
Let’s go for the round the world record in 2025!