The new IBSA Class40 in the water for the technical launch

Five months after the start of Sailing into the future. Together, IBSA can celebrate the first important milestone of the project: the technical launch of the new Class40.

Against the background of the beautiful town of La Trinité-Sur-Mer, yesterday afternoon the IBSA Class40 travelled on board a truck the short journey between the shipyard and the marina and, right in front of “Casa IBSA” – the operational headquarters – it was put in the water for the first time for its technical launch.

A milestone that marks the conclusion of many months of design, construction, hard shipyard work and difficult technical and strategic choices, that now are finally realised, projecting skipper Alberto Bona, his team and all IBSA towards the Route du Rhum, which will start next November 6.

“The technical launch is a critical step of the project, also from a psychological and motivational point of view. After so many months of work, what were just ideas and projects have finally taken shape. We have built this new Class40 using the approach that best represents us, by fielding innovation, determination, continuous improvement and the will to always sail new horizons, within a vision that for IBSA always goes beyond the pharmaceutical context and beyond care”, explained Giorgio Pisani, Vice President Southern Europe IBSA and Project Leader. “Now Alberto and his team must make the most of the time left before departure and carry out the “wet” testing, in order to make the boat reliable and performing and turn this sporting undertaking into a success”.

SAILING INTO THE FUTURE TOGETHER | REVEAL VARO TECNICO

Bona is indeed ready to begin the last part of his training at sea, to test every detail of the new boat, one of the most innovative that is going to compete in the transoceanic regatta. Characterised by a rounded bow, designed to increase performance when sailing downwind, the IBSA’s Mach 5 promises high performance, power and speed, also thanks to the shape of the water lines and appendages. Another distinctive element is the design of the cockpit, large and well protected, to face solo navigation in as comfortable and safe positions as possible.

“With IBSA, we first of all built a team, with which we planned the activities and objectives on which to work together. This boat perfectly reflects our approach to the program, and is the result of the search for detail, of improvement in every single aspect: we were looking for a fast hull, reliable in all weather conditions and sufficiently innovative to be able to make a difference”, commented Alberto Bona.

Making a difference is one of the objectives of the project Sailing into the future. Together and the partnership between IBSA and Bona. Inaugurated last March, this three-year project aims to use sailing as a leading communication tool for the company, also to disseminate messages of environmental and social responsibility.

Starting now, Alberto has one month to set up the boat and to qualify for the Route du Rhum by sailing a thousand miles by the end of September. The next important appointment is set for September 9 in La Trinité-sur-Mer, where the actual launch will take place, that is, the ceremony that will officially make the IBSA Class40 enter the nautical world. In mid-September Alberto will take part in the Malouine Lamotte regatta and will transfer his operational base to Saint-Malo, from where the Route du Rhum will start.

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