In this second edition of the Rome–Barcelona, I sailed with Andrea Iacopini, a competitor in the 2013 Mini Transat.
With a pre-start under pouring rain, we set off in unstable southwest winds that soon shifted to Mistral, giving us a beautiful upwind leg to Giglio Island. Then a quick reach brought us halfway to Montecristo, where the entire fleet was stuck upwind in 3–5 knots from the west.
We spent the second day beating with 8–10 knots back toward the Strait of Bonifacio — frustrating to see the sharp-bowed boats speed past us.
Passing through the strait was a smooth upwind leg in 16 knots and minimal waves, giving us plenty of fun — and dolphins jumping on the bow made the sunset unforgettable.
After the strait, more upwind with little wind and nasty head seas. At night we drifted among jellyfish under a cloudy sky, with hardly any way to make progress.
Fortunately, before lunch we caught a northeast flow that helped us recover miles on the leaders and brought us almost to the finish before the wind died 25 miles out.
We crossed the line at 2 a.m., with a light onshore breeze, finishing second in the double-handed series.
A huge thanks to everyone supporting me, especially Yacht Club Santo Stefano, Farmacia Palermo in Porto Santo Stefano, Équipement de Vie, and Pasta Berruto.
Andrea Iacopini shares:
500 miles across the Mediterranean!
On April 24th, together with Nico Onore, we set sail from Rome to Barcelona — crossing the iconic Tuscan islands of Giglio and Montecristo, navigating the Bonifacio Strait, and finishing at the BISC harbor for an unforgettable arrival.
An incredible experience!
A tight-knit crew, great collaboration, and fair competition among all teams created an atmosphere full of passion and camaraderie — reminding me why I love sailing so much.
Thank you, Nico Onore. I truly enjoyed our route, our journey, and our well-earned 2nd place.
Sailing with you was also a powerful reminder that inclusion makes every challenge richer and every success more meaningful.
Diversity is not just a value — it’s a strength on every deck, in every race, and in every aspect of our life.
Let’s keep promoting inclusive sports and diverse crews — both on land and at sea.