Published on: 26/07/2021 Updated on: 20/02/2025
With Andrea Pendibene toward the MiniTransat 2021
Andrea Pendibene, the talented Navy athlete for the sailing discipline, is preparing for the MiniTransat 2021. In the historic solo Atlantic regatta, which takes place every two years, we at Mafra are by his side with the technical support of products from the nautical line. It is Andrea himself who tells us how his preparation is going.
La MiniTransat is the historic regatta that crosses the Atlantic fromEurope to South America. The regatta is one of the most famous in the world and also the most difficult for a sailor. It is held every two years on a solo basis and is reserved for small boats of the Mini class (length of six and a half meters). Andrea Pendibene, Navy athlete, is preparing to participate in MiniTransat 2021.
For years, we at Mafra have been supporting Andrea Pendibene in her sailing, with technical support from the full range of Mafra products for the care and maintenance of any boat.
Thanks in part to the contribution of our specific products, Andrea Pendibene is focusing on verifying the reliability and robustness of sails, equipment, electronics, and much more. Precisely nothing can be left to chance in a solo transatlantic race on a boat of only 6.50 meters! Andrea will have to face more than 4,000 nautical miles in complete autonomy without even a charting GPS, let alone any other communication systems except the VHF with a 20-mile range.
Minitransat: the "extreme" regatta
Created in 1977 by Englishman Bob Salmon, the Transat 6.50 is the race for solo sailors that crosses the Atlantic from Europe to South America, better known as MiniTransat precisely because it is reserved for small boats of the Mini class. It is the answer to the financial and ultra-technological gigantism of transoceanic races that are raced with boats with hyperbolic costs, and that leave less room for the human component and individual skills.
The classic transatlantic, which turns 23 years old this year, will set sail Sept. 26 from Les Sables d'Olonne, France, then stop in Santa Cruz, on the island of Palma in the Canary Islands, and depart Oct. 29 for Saint Francois of Guadeloupe. There will be only 84 sailors on the starting line!
Preparation: Pegasus ITA 883 "under the knife"
Pegaso ITA 883 is "under the knife" in La Rochelle, Home of ocean sailing in Atlantic France.
The timing of preparation for the MiniTransat 2021 regatta is advancing in the optimal direction, although not at the speed Andrea Pendibene predicted at the beginning of the year. The motivation, commitment and tenacity with which Andrea pursues the project remain unchanged.
The construction phases on the boat to check its components and replace those most worn out. In the meantime, Andrea studies the Atlantic weather and sea conditions, which are totally different from the Mediterranean Sea.
Mafra products that Andrea uses to care for the Pegasus
Andrea is preparing Pegaso ITA 833 in every detail also thanks to Mafra products from the Boat Line and the Technical Line. While to polish the hull he relies on Mafra Polishes, products that can ensure an excellent result. Nothing can be left to chance to tackle the MiniTransat 2021!
Technical Line
degreaser spray by incisive action capable of penetrating deep among encrustations, quickly removing all kinds of dirt, including grease and oil, without having to disassemble the parts to be cleaned.
super adhesive transparent lubricant High-strength and high-penetration. Due to its incredible lubricating properties, this product provides excellent smoothness and is resistant to both washing and salt and chemical agents.
Multifunctional spray That ensures 7 different functions. Lubricates, unlock, reactivates, protects, cleans, renew and it is also water-repellent. An ideal product for lubricating and reactivating any mechanical device.
the cream to remove all kinds of dirt from the hands, even the most resistant, so quick but at the same time delicate. Perfect for washing tar residue, grease, oil, resins, soot and even ink.
Boat Line
product based on surfactants of plant origin, specially designed for the Complete cleaning of exterior and interior parts fiberglass of boats. Dolphy removes all kinds of dirt even the toughest dirt such as black lines, organic material from birds and exhaust fumes. Its balanced formula based on Polarlite.®, a principle studied by Mafra Laboratories, prevents the deterioration of the gelcoat, polishing and brightening the surface of the fiberglass.
a fully biodegradable product designed specifically for cleaning the waterline. Waterline Clean Effectively disincrustates the boat's waterline and removes every trace of algae and all kinds of dirt. Its action is very effective and guarantees a long-lasting effect.
Polish
polish with compound very versatile silicone- and filler-free, water-based formula that, thanks to its Micro Abrasive Technology (M.A.T.), guarantees a firm cut and an excellent finish right out of the box. It is ideal for use with both orbital and rotary polishers.
the polish ideal for closing the polishing process, capable of donating gloss and shine to the surface. It is a water-based, silicone- and filler-free product that, thanks to its anti-hologram formula, provides an excellent finish and gives a deep shine by removing any collateral damage produced in the cutting stage.
Who is Andrea Pendibene
Counted among the best skippers in the world, Andrea Pendibene was born in Viareggio in 1981.
Education: after graduating from theArtiglio Nautical Institute in Viareggio, he attended two master's courses at the Marine Faculty in Southampton and the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. In 2003, he received a diploma in marine design for recreational boating.
Successes: in 2007, after becoming the youngest Italian ever to finish the MiniTransat, he wins the Italian title and enters the top 84 skippers in the world. Three years later, in 2010, he never gets off the podium in seven regattas held in Italy and abroad he wins the Italian Mini 6.50 Championship among series boats. He closes the year in third place on the world class ranking list. Since 2011 he has been enlisted in the Navy's sports group (Marivela).
In the 2017 edition of the MiniTransat, Mafra was the first private company to sponsor a special Navy boat, the Pegaso ITA 883, piloted solo by Andrea Pendibene himself.
Andrea Pendibene's MiniTransat Logbook.
From La Rochelle in France to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil: more than 4,000 miles of ocean solo aboard a sailboat of only six and a half meters. A compulsory test for young people who aspire to join the elite of the great oceanic soloists.
Andrea Pendibene was the youngest Italian to participate in the Mini Transat in 2007. Mini Transat - Logbook of a dream come true is Andrea Pendibene's gripping logbook of the regatta. Amid the dangers and difficulties of solo sailing, the headwinds, the unknown of the pot au noir - the 'black pit' between seven and five degrees North latitude, where grueling flats alternate with thunderstorms and sudden squalls. But the diary is also an account of the many difficulties he overcame in order to succeed in leaving: a kind of guide for the many young people who cultivate the same dream but who, like him, must manage to find the means to achieve it.
Continue to follow thefascinating adventure with us
By Andrea Pendibene toward MiniTransat 2021!
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