Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini set sail for the 9th edition of the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race at 3pm local time yesterday. The regatta, first run in 1996, isorganized by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and is part of the China Coast Race Week. The fleet set sail from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, and will arrive in Nha Trang, Vietnam, after sailing predominately downwind for 673 miles.

With an Easterly wind of 12-15 knots and a calm sea, Maserati Multi 70 crossed the starting line in the Hong Kong canal, in front of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, on the wake of SHK Scallywag Fuku. After the first few hours, Maserati Multi 70 should find a North-Easterly wind of 25 knots that will last for the first half of the course. After that, the wind will drop to 20-15 knots and then drop again approaching the finish line.

Nine boats entered the regatta, two of which are multihulls: Maserati Multi 70’s direct competitor is SHK Scallywag Fuku, an Orma 60 skippered by David Witt. The Hong Kong-based trimaran (former Team Australia) was added to Team Scallywag’s fleet in 2018, alongside the 100 feet maxi monohull Scallywag.

A few moments before setting sail, Giovanni Soldini commented: “It will be important for us to prevent our competitor from out-distancing us at the start in the canal, where there will be less wind.” SHK Scallywag Fuku is a 60-foot trimaran, much lighter than Maserati Multi 70, so the Hong Kong based trimaran will be very advantaged with light winds. Soldini continues: “With a strong wind and a rough sea we are surely more at ease, we will try to monitor our competitor and to avoid leaving lateral distance. Lighter boats are very strong with downwind like the one expected for this race, but I’m sure that with long waves we will be able to make a difference. Maserati Multi 70’s Team is definitely pumped and we will fight tooth and nail as always!”

The two competing trimarans will try to beat the race speed record of 1 day, 18 hours, 17 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2015 by Sydney Fisher aboard the monohull Ragamuffin 100. The multihull record was set in 2006, when Benoit Lesaffre finished the race in 1 day, 23 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds aboard the catamaran Atmosphere.

In July, Maserati Multi 70’s Team entered the shipyard in Hawaii, where they worked non-stop for two months: they repaired the damage to the left side hull and rudder, caused by an impact during the Transpacific Yacht Race, and carried out ordinary maintenance work. Furthermore, they continued researching and experimenting to optimize Maserati Multi 70’s flying performance: for the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race the T-shaped rudders are adjusted on optimal settings, developed after various tests that were carried out in the past months.

For this edition of the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, skipper Giovanni Soldini will sail aboard Maserati Multi 70 with a seven-man crew:

Guido Broggi (IT), shift supervisor – born in 1971, he is Maserati Multi 70’s boat captain and has thousands of miles of ocean sailing under his belt. He has been working alongside Giovanni Soldini for many years, since he was team leader in the building and in the racing preparation of 60’ Fila in 1998. He was part of Maserati Multi 70’s crew for the Tea Route record from Hong Kong to London and, in 2019, for the RORC Caribbean 600, the CA 500 and the Transpac.
Furio Carboni (ITA), grinder – born in 1993, he grew up at sea, he has been sailing since he was young and he participated in many crewed races. He sailed aboard Maserati Multi 70 for the 6,000 miles long delivery from Honolulu to Hong Kong.

Lorenzo Jovanotti Cherubini (ITA), grinder – born in 1966, he loves adventures and travelling by sea, he sailed aboard Maserati Multi 70 for a delivery from Italy to Spain in 2017.
Ronan Cointo (FRA), tactician – born in 1973, he has many years of experience both in the shipyard and at sea. He participated in 5 Solitaire du Figaro, in many transatlantic crossings and in the building of many state-of-the-art IMOCAs. He was part of the building team for Giovanni Soldini’s Class 40 Telecom Italia in 2006 and, aboard Maserati Multi 70, he sailed for the delivery from Honolulu to Hong Kong.

Oliver Herrera Perez (ESP), shift supervisor – born in 1987, throughout his career he raced aboard Ims 500s, Swan 45s and Rc44s. He was previously part of VOR 70 Maserati’s crew and now he continues to race as bowman aboard Maserati Multi 70. He crewed for Giovanni Soldini during the Tea Route record and, in 2019, for the RORC Caribbean 600, the CA 500 and the Transpac.

Nico Malingri (ITA), grinder – born in 1991, he started sailing at a very young age and has conquered two double-handed records with his father Vittorio Malingri aboard a 20-foot-long catamaran: the Marseilles-Carthage in 2016 and the Dakar-Guadeloupe in 2017. Aboard Maserati Multi 70 he participated in the latest editions of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the RORC Transatlantic Race, the RORC Caribbean 600 and the CA 500.

Matteo Soldini (ITA), trimmer and grinder – born in 1993, he has been part of the Maserati Multi 70 project since its start and has participated in many offshore races. He was part of the trimaran’s crew for the latest Rolex Middle Sea Race, RORC Transatlantic Race, RORC Caribbean 600, CA 500 and Transpac.
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Nha Trang Rally is the last regatta of Maserati Multi 70 and Giovanni Soldini’s 2019 racing season. This past year the Italian Team has participated in the RORC Caribbean 600 in February, the CA 500 in May and the Transpacific Yacht Race in July.

Photo: Maserati Multi 70 in front of RHKYC - 2019 - Photo Credit RHKYC Guy Nowell