The “Maxicat Victoria” awaiting a good window for its next departure
Monday, November 11, 2024.
The “Maxicat Victoria” is still moored at the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, waiting for a good starting window for the second leg of the Discovery Route, the one between La Gomera and San Salvador, in the Bahamas. “We really want to leave, but the current situation is that the trade wind, which is the wind that runs at this time of the year, which pushes from Africa or Europe for America and is the one Columbus used to make his first voyage, is destroyed.
This is not going to move until about November 27 or so. The record set is very demanding and we have to wait for a good starting window,” says Alex Pella. To break the record, they will have to complete both courses in less than 11 days, 7 hours and 40 seconds.
In the following video Alex Pella explains (in spanish language) the weather situation.
Ruta del descubrimiento (Discovery route)
This route was the first of the four voyages made by Christopher Columbus. The expedition departed from Palos de la Frontera, in Huelva, on August 3, 1492, composed of three ships: Santa María, Pinta and La Niña, and sighted the mainland, on the island of San Salvador, on October 12, 1492. Thus began one of the world’s greatest milestones: the discovery of a new continent.
Desafío Victoria (victoria Challenge)
Alex Pella and his crew have already achieved two records, that of “La vuelta a Menorca”, beaten in April with a record of 5 hours, 4 minutes and 57 seconds and that of “La Vuelta a España”, in July, in 4 days, 17 hours, 14 minutes and 46 seconds.
Historically, Spain has been the greatest maritime power and the great explorer of the blue planet. 500 years ago, the Spanish expedition initiated by Magellan and completed by Elcano changed the world. Inspired by this adventure in history, ‘Desafío Victoria’ was born, a major project in which a legendary ship has been recovered to revive and compete in the greatest oceanic challenge of all time: to sail around the world to the west. The Maxicat Victoria is a legendary ocean-going multihull, built in France, with a length of 33.5 meters, a beam of 17.5 meters and a mast height of 42.6 meters.
It will be a sporty, circular and global challenge. Circumnavigating the planet westward 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 face 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 minimize our carbon footprint and the waste generated throughout the project is non-negotiable.
Festina y Qualitas Energy are Victoria Challenge sponsors
The watch brand Festina is the main sponsor and official timekeeper of the Victoria Challenge from 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 witness 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.
In addition, Qualitas Energy, a global investment and management platform specialized in renewable energy, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure investment, also supports the project.
Photographs Delphine Trentacosta
Responsible for Desafío Victoria media:
Desirée Tornero
desiree@aguaysalcomunicacion.com
More information at:
From “Bluewater Sailors” we wish Alex Pella and the entire Desafío Victoria team good winds and good luck in this record attempt of the “Discovery Route”, as a previous step to the “ELCANO Ocean Trophy” round the world sailing project.
