Esimit Europa 2 sets benchmark time for the new world record on route between Trieste and Valletta

Seven hundred and forty nautical miles of sailing in challenging weather conditions, with winds ranging from fairly light to very strong, up to 40 knots, took the Esimit Europa 2 yacht and its European crew 68 hours, 42 minutes and 24 seconds.

The Esimit sailing team crossed the finish line in Valletta on Wednesday, 17 October at 6.42pm CEST and set the benchmark time for the new world record route from Trieste to Valletta, recognised by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

Sailing with the average speed of 10.77 knots, the new record has been the second big test within six days, after racing at the Barcolana regatta and before participating at the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

On 14 October at 10pm CEST, the Esimit sailing team started their next tough challenge. They got on the way immediately after winning the 44th edition of the Barcolana. Establishing the benchmark time (recognized by the World Sailing Speed Record Council) for the new world record route between Trieste (Italy) and Valletta (Malta), the European crew faced the 740 nautical mile long route with very strong winds up to 40 knots on one hand, as well as light wind conditions on the other. Sailing with an average speed of 10.77 knots, Esimit crossed the finish line in Valletta’s Marsamxett Harbour at 6.42pm on Wednesday, 17 October. The new record has been the second big challenge within just six days, after racing at the Barcolana regatta on October 14 and just before participating at the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which started on 20 October.

“Especially in the Adriatic Sea, we passed at least seven different systems with 7 to 40 knots of upwind that made the passage quite difficult for us. At the end, it was an enjoyable journey, but very hard in between, resulting in a good record time, but of course, we are aiming to improve our own benchmark next year, as well. At the same time we would like to encourage yachts, which already participate at the Barcolana and the Rolex Middle Sea Race, to also take on the challenge,” said Esimit Europa 2’s skipper Jochen Schümann, after the arrival in Valletta.

When leaving the Gulf of Trieste, the route chosen by the world acknowledged Spanish navigator Juan Vila, led Esimit Europa 2 along the Croatian shore for quite some time before going to the Italian shore.

“Upwind conditions accompanied us on the way when starting in the Adriatic, and we’ve initially chosen to sail closer to the Croatian shore, before finally switching to the Italian shore. Once around Italy, there is more open water, but we still had to be very careful because of the high mountains around Calabria and Sicily, to position ourselves in the best pressure zone,” explained Vila.

By completing the Trieste-Valletta passage in 68 hours, 42 minutes and 24 seconds,

Esimit Europa 2 established the benchmark for further monohulls attempting to beat this accomplishment.

Medot sailing trophy

For monohulls, breaking the benchmark time in the period between the Barcolana and the Rolex Middle Sea Race, a very special trophy has been created - the Medot sailing

trophy, which is under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Tonio Borg.

The trophy will be presented during the official prize giving of the Rolex Middle Sea Race tomorrow. This new sailing challenge is not only joining the cities of Trieste and Valletta, but also the two yacht clubs (Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano and Royal Malta Yacht Club), and furthermore the Barcolana regatta and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

About Esimit Europa 2

The Esimit Europa 2 yacht sails under the flag of the European Union, is registered in Cyprus, is a member of the Yacht Club de Monaco, competes for the Slovenian Sailing Federation and on board joins sailors from eight different European countries.

It is under the patronage of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and endorsed by Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament. Its main sponsor is the global energy company Gazprom, while BMW is the official partner.