Photo credit: Breschi / Crédit Mutuel
Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria have taken third place in the 8th edition of the Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables race, crossing the finish line at 15h23 on Thursday, July 8 after racing for 11 days, 2 hours and 21 minutes. Aboard the Crédit Mutuel Class 40, the two skippers made a spectacular comeback during the return leg, breaking the Class 40 24-hour sailing speed record on several occasions.
Met on their arrival at Sables d’Olonne by André Lorieu, Chairman of Fédération du Crédit Mutuel Océan, Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria could not conceal their joy, but their faces bore the strain of a race to which the two skippers gave their all, right up to the Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables finish line. And what a race!
Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria are met by André Lorieu, Chairman of Fédération du Crédit Mutuel Océan.
Photo credit: Breschi/Crédit Mutuel
Photo credit: Breschi/Crédit Mutuel
In his sixth Class 40 race, Ian Lipinski takes 3rd place, mounting the podium for a fifth time, after an incredible race that saw the Crédit Mutuel Class40 come up from behind to tackle the leaders right up to the very end. After crossing the virtual half-way line off the port of Horta, and once outside the zone influenced by the geography of the Azores, Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Becaria took full advantage of the south-southwesterly wind that swept them towards the Atlantic coast at great speed. At such great speed, that the Class40 24-hour sailing speed record, already held by Ian Lipinski with the Crédit Mutuel boat since the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre race, was broken several times on Monday. In the end, a distance of 428.82 miles was retained and will be submitted to the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council) for validation as soon as the Crédit Mutuel Class40 has returned and the racing log data has been analyzed.
Driven by a brisk wind, Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria made a real comeback towards the end of the race, gradually catching up with the leaders and alternating tactical options in an attempt to make the difference against the leaders. It was a tough battle and the 3h59’01 that separate the Crédit Mutuel Class40 from the boat that came second testify to the pugnacity and constant efforts of Ian and Ambrogio in this last struggle. The two skippers have nothing to be ashamed of.
For Nicolas Théry, chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale “For nearly two years now, we have followed the prowess of Ian Lipinski and the Crédit Mutuel Class40 with passion. Once again, it was a thrilling race during which Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria showed extraordinary fighting spirit and tenacity to win this third place. Their comeback in the last few days of the race was exhilarating. All Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s staff and elected directors are very proud of Ian and Ambrogio. “
On his arrival, Ian Lipinski declared: “It's a wonderful third place! We did everything we could to catch up with the leaders and finally managed to win our place on the podium. This race has confirmed the qualities of our Crédit Mutuel class40 boat. We even showed with the record that we sailed fast at different points of sail! I am still learning things from this boat and from the people I sail with. And I’m making progress. I hope this is a good sign for the big event of the autumn: the Transat Jacques-Vabre race.“
“I feel very happy. Despite a difficult start, we finished 3rd and set a new 24-hour sailing speed record. Of course, we are a little disappointed that we didn’t win, but that’s ocean racing. And, in the circumstances, this third place is very good,” added his co-skipper, Ambrogio Beccaria.
Driven by a brisk wind, Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria made a real comeback towards the end of the race, gradually catching up with the leaders and alternating tactical options in an attempt to make the difference against the leaders. It was a tough battle and the 3h59’01 that separate the Crédit Mutuel Class40 from the boat that came second testify to the pugnacity and constant efforts of Ian and Ambrogio in this last struggle. The two skippers have nothing to be ashamed of.
For Nicolas Théry, chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale “For nearly two years now, we have followed the prowess of Ian Lipinski and the Crédit Mutuel Class40 with passion. Once again, it was a thrilling race during which Ian Lipinski and Ambrogio Beccaria showed extraordinary fighting spirit and tenacity to win this third place. Their comeback in the last few days of the race was exhilarating. All Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s staff and elected directors are very proud of Ian and Ambrogio. “
On his arrival, Ian Lipinski declared: “It's a wonderful third place! We did everything we could to catch up with the leaders and finally managed to win our place on the podium. This race has confirmed the qualities of our Crédit Mutuel class40 boat. We even showed with the record that we sailed fast at different points of sail! I am still learning things from this boat and from the people I sail with. And I’m making progress. I hope this is a good sign for the big event of the autumn: the Transat Jacques-Vabre race.“
“I feel very happy. Despite a difficult start, we finished 3rd and set a new 24-hour sailing speed record. Of course, we are a little disappointed that we didn’t win, but that’s ocean racing. And, in the circumstances, this third place is very good,” added his co-skipper, Ambrogio Beccaria.