11th edition in Tuscany
The success of the Fountaine Pajot catamaran owners’ gatherings continues unabated: for the 11th edition, no fewer than twenty-two sailing multihulls (from the Isla 40 to the Samana 59) and two powercats were present for a convivial program starting from Punta Ala, in Tuscany (Italy).
In Punta Ala, it was impossible to miss the Fountaine Pajot fleet; 24 catamarans from 40 to 59 feet certainly don’t go unnoticed in a plush marina usually occupied by monohulls. From the Isla 40 to the Samana 59, a veritable catalog of the brand was moored alongside. Compared to the 2022 edition in Croatia, where a large number of charter boats were present, owners were overwhelmingly represented here aboard their own catamarans. Even more surprising: almost a quarter of the participants flew the Swiss flag! There were no fewer than 5 Swiss crews – La Pinta (HĂ©lia 44), Lillesol (Elba 45), Maona and Blue Mandarin (Tanna 47) and Kapowai (Aura 51). The highlight of the event was the “regatta” to the island of Elba: this jaunt, with a nice 15 knot breeze and flat seas, took the fleet to Porto Azzurro in less than three hours. The crew of Isla 40 Terre, led by Richard and DorothĂ©e, didn’t give up until they were beaten to the line by AstrĂ©a 42 Migaloo 2, due to the whimsical devents caused by the relief at the end of the bay. The finish buoy, in fact, was not so easy to reach under sail, motivating some participants to finish the course under motor. The third catamaran to cross the line was the AstrĂ©a 42 from the Fountaine Pajot team – a respectable place given that this rental multihull had neither gennaker nor spinnaker.
A PARTY ON LAND IN PRESTIGIOUS SETTINGS. ©Emmanuel van Deth and Fountaine Pajot
For the return trip to the head of the Gulf of Follonica, downwind sails were once again set as the wind shifted to the left. This time it was Maona, a Tanna 47, who first took control, pulled along by her red-and-white gennaker. Halfway through the race, Lillesol, boosted by her big blue asymmetrical spinnaker, tried to regain the lead, but nothing could be done. Terre, despite its smaller size, once again demonstrated the benefits of a clean hull… and folding propellers, by climbing to third place. On land, there was a succession of feasts and tastings of local produce. The big parade around the mysterious island to the west of the port, and the planned “flower anchorage” in the Gulf of Follonica, due to a strong northerly wind, were opportunely replaced by sailmaking and electronics workshops, to the delight of the 120 participants.
Kapowai
Ready to discover the Mediterranean
Christian and Michaela have owned their Aura 51 since 2024; they sailed their catamaran last season, discovering Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. “We had quite a lot of wind, often headwinds, but in the end it was an excellent opportunity to discover and get to grips with our catamaran. Today, we’re delighted to share this moment of conviviality with other Fountaine Pajotn owners in Tuscany, especially as this region of Italy is a fantastic place to sail. We’ll be sailing to Elba and then staying here in Porto Azzurro for a month to perfect the preparation of our catamaran. After that, we’ll head for Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Turkey – and why not Malta?
