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The highlight of the event was the “race” to the island of Elba: this beautiful trip took place in a good 15-knot breeze with flat seas, taking the fleet to Porto Azzuro in less than three hours. The crew of the Isla 40 Terre, led by Richard and Dorothée, gave it their all until they were pipped at the post by the Astréa 42 Migaloo 2, due to the unpredictable windshifts caused by the shape of the land at the entrance to the bay. The finish line was not easy to reach under sail, prompting some participants to complete the course under motor. The third catamaran to cross the line was the Astréa 42 from the Fountaine Pajot team – an honorable place considering that this charter multihull had neither gennaker nor spinnaker.
For the return leg, the downwind sails were set again as the wind shifted more to port. This time, it was Maona, a Tanna 47, that took the lead, pulled along by its red and white gennaker. Halfway through the race, Lillesol, an Elba 45 boosted by its large blue asymmetrical spinnaker, tried hard to regain the lead, but to no avail. Terre, despite its small size, once again demonstrated the advantages of having a clean hull... and folding propellers, climbing onto the third step of the podium.
Back ashore, there was a feast of local produce. The grand parade around the mysterious island to the west of the port and the “flower-filled anchorage” planned in the Gulf of Follonica had to be abandoned due to strong northerly winds, but this was no problem as the 120 participants enjoyed sailing and electronics workshops instead.
