Crossing the Atlantic Alone on a Beach Cat!

It took Vittorio Malingri just 13 days, 17 hours and 48 minutes to sail 2,545 miles from Dakar, Senegal to Guadeloupe, Antilles. This Italian sailor didn't make the crossing in your average boat however, he made the crossing single handed aboard Royal Oak, a 20 foot beach cat!

Vittorio left from Dakar on Tuesday, April 15 at 13:21 U.T.C. Upon his arrival to Guadeloupe, the Milanese single-handed sailor was received by his staff, family, and friends. Vittorio Malingri had this to say about his trip across the pond: “It was a wonderful experience regardless of the difficulties and problems that I encountered. The boat worked marvelously, apart from the problems I had with the solar panels which affected my energy supply and therefore the functioning of the automatic pilot and phones. The biggest problem was having to do everything with only one hand, with the automatic pilot out my other hand was needed on the rudder. At night, for short intervals I tied the rudder in order to rest. I did not suffer hunger or thirst. From a physical point of view, it was much less difficult than a leg on the around the world race in a larger boat. Now I am going to sleep in a bed. See you later.”

-- ABOUT THE CATAMARAN --

The Royal Oak is a catamaran conceived just for this record. According to regulations: a beach catamaran with a maximum length of 20 feet without a fixed shelter. The project is by Sito Aviles Ramos, a friend of Vittorio and the only designer with proven experience in these catamarans, and which hold some of the recent records. With Vittorio’s specifications a totally new catamaran was created. More than just an evolution of the previous one: more powerful and rich with state of the art solutions in hulls, platform, and terraces. The construction of the boat is entirely in carbon fiber with the identical technology that is applied to the best composites plowing through the oceans today. The shrouds are entirely in textile fibers.

Together with Neil Pryde, Vittorio designed a generous sail plan introducing solutions that stem from the largest ocean multi-hulls and from the world of the skiffs.

The catamaran was conceived to minimize the risks of capsizing and damage, while maintaining constant speed. In case of capsizing the boat is equipped to be easily redressed by a single person. The boat is equipped with watertight compartments for food, safety equipment, clothes, drinking water and spare parts; on the platform two watertight bags keep the necessary at hand. A small solar powered battery is dedicated to power the satellite phone, portable gps, portable vhf radio, a small automatic pilot, lights, compass and a digital video/photo camera. Vittorio also carried the safety equipment typical of a much larger ocean yacht: manual drinking water distiller, EPIRB, lifejackets, survival wetsuit, radar transponder, tools and of course first-aid equipment.

-- ABOUT VITTORIO MALINGRI -

Vittorio Malingri has over thirty years of ocean sailing experience as skipper and designer, and was the first Italian at the Vendée Globe.

In 1997, on the 60ft trimaran Spirit, Vittorio Malingri established the record (still unbeaten) at the Roma x 2 in 54 hours and 16 minutes. Then, with Franco Manzoli they achieved an overall win at the Corsica x 2 on the 30 ft catamaran ‘Golfo Tigullio’. A victory that Manzoli and Malingri reconfirm in 1998 by establishing a new 52 hour record.

In 1999 Vittorio and Franco Manzoli placed first once again at the Corsica x 2.
In the 90’s he starts up an agriturismo near Gubbio, while on the designing front, he creates the MiniMo, a small cruiser.

Vittorio also had enjoyed extensive land trips by car, following the same sailing philosophy of free cruising: autonomously and away from the ordinary routes. At 20, with a couple friends he traveled 16,000 km through Mexico in a 61’ Chevy Malibu. Later, with Anna and small Manuele he embarked in the first African episode. Then with Mariateresa his latest companion, he completed a five month trip by car to Gambia, crossing Europe and West Africa. It was the first time Vittorio visited Dakar. In these years he also participated in the Rally of Dubai saddled on a motorcycle.

From the moment of the launch in 2000, he became a crew member on the TIM trimaran skippered by Giovanni Soldini. In 2001 he participated in the Grand Prixs and the transfers of the boat from Brazil to Italy following the Transat Jacques Vabre. With Giovanni Soldini, always on board trimaran TIM, they won the 2002 edition of the Roma x 2, after a three day duel, tack to tack, against Sergio Tacchini.

In 2003, always with Giovanni, Vittorio was co-skipper at the Transat Jacques Vabre, but after an excellent start and three days in first place, they were forced to withdraw due to damage to the central hull. They were in the open sea, 170 miles from Portugal, but managed to return on their own despite a completely flooded boat which risked a final snap.

In 2005 Vittorio was again on TIM Progetto Italia for another Jacques Vabre which ended with a sensational capsize, just when Vittorio and Giovanni had set out to regain the lead. They were 450m South-East of Dakar and were rescued by a Russian oil tanker that dropped them off in Houston, Texas.

-- FOR THE RECORD --

For the record: Route from Dakar, Senegal to Guadeloupe, Antilles for a total of 2,545 miles aboard Royal Oak, a 6.09 meter non habitable catamaran. The only reference point to compare with on this route was made by the two Frenchmen Pierre-Yves Moreau and Benoit Lequin, which last December took 11 days 11 hours and 25 minutes to complete in doubles. Vittorio was in perfect average with these numbers, and actually had an advantage on April 18, when unfortunetely the Anticyclone of the Azores began to slacken, and the wind went down to 15 knots stable, making it impossible to repeat or improve the hourly averages of the Frenchmen.

Vittorio Malingri is the first navigator to challenge this route single-handed on a beach cat, so his is the new solo record to beat at 13 days, 17 hours and 48 minutes. Good job Vittorio!

Photos by di James Robinson Taylor
Video: Vittorio Malingri & Royal Oak