After a bit of time spent getting used to the yacht and its handling, the Magellano 74 departed Varazze and headed down the coast to San Remo. Conditions were choppy and storms were brewing, but at an average speed of 16 knots the Magellano coped well and remained surprisingly stable. Once past San Remo, waves reached 2 meters in height and conditions began to deteriorate. Dag Pike decided to head for Cannes and wait out the storm.
Cambrils and Palma de Mallorca
The weather soon cleared and the Magellano chartered a course for Cambrils, a small town about 75 miles south of Barcelona. As they passed Frejus and the Gulf of St Tropez, the sun came out and conditions were ideal. The only problem they had was the bright sun reflecting off the sea. At 16 knots and with the stabilizers on, the yacht was rock steady as it headed to Spain.
As night fell conditions took a turn for the worse. The storms had gone and prevailing winds were light, but the Gulf of Lyon was awash with waves up to 3 meters high. The yacht coped, but at times dropped to speeds as low as 6 knots. Fortunately the crew all managed to get some sleep, though no one volunteered to use the forward cabin that night. Next morning was fine. The crew parked at their allocated berth in Cambrils and feasted on sea food and steaks.
Next it was time for business. Clients and press representatives had booked time aboard the Magellano for sea trials. They'd read about the yacht after her introduction at the Genoa Boat Show and were eager to see how she performed. Feedback was excellent: everyone seemed genuinely impressed by the Magellano's unique handling.
As pleasant as it was in Cambrils, the weather forecast was grim. More storms were on the horizon and strong winds were predicted over much of the Mediterranean. With little time left before the weather broke, the Magellano turned up the throttle and sped southeast to Palma de Mallorca. The following 3 days were pretty miserable. Palma was besieged by violent gales, and the swells that came into the harbor sent yachts into a constant rolling motion. When the winds finally abated, skipper Dag Pike gave the green light and the Magellano set sail for Tunisia. They arrived in Sidi Bou Said just over a day later on December 3.
Tunisia, Malta and Rome
The Magellano's crew loved Tunisia. The weather behaved itself and the sky was ablaze with wall to wall sunshine. The marina was crowded, but the Magellano handled perfectly and eased into her berth with aplomb. Once entry formalities had been taken care of, the crew went back to sea for a photo shoot.
Next it was time for the hop due east to Malta. The weather had once again taken a turn for the worse, but the force-5 winds were astern and the Magellano sped along in comfort and style. Italian crew members were even able to whip up a fantastic pasta dish for those who'd built up an appetite. The Magellano docked in Malta early on December 9. Guests given a tour of the yacht included the CEO of Malta's Maritime Authority and Austin Gatt, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications.
After 2 days in Malta it was time to head back into the Mediterranean. Skipper Dag Pike plotted a course that took the Magellano past Sicily and all the way up to Rome. They got there on December 13 and were greeted by a cold, depressing downpour that lasted the whole day. The hope was that clients would turn up and request a tour of the yacht and her interiors. Food and drinks were prepared, but the Romans didn't come. Not a single guest dropped by. The biting-cold rain was to blame.
Viareggio: Home Sweet Home
The adventure concluded on December 14 when the Magellano sailed into Viareggio. The crew were tired but exhilarated. The odyssey had spawned memories that none of them would ever forget. As for the Magellano 74 – she had exceeded all expectations and performed like a dream.
There were waves three meters high and shallow waters, all the conditions one hopes not to find during a long journey, but the Magellano reacted well to every one of our commands. She can operate without hesitation from zero to twenty-four knots and is secure at whatever velocity.
Dag Pike, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Yachtsman of the Year Awards, 2009
Azimut Magellano Yachts in New Zealand
Pinnacle Marine is New Zealand's only appointed dealer for Azimut Yachts and their award-winning Magellano collection. Pinnacle Marine was founded by Grant Saunders, an industry veteran with years of experience in sales, marketing and brokerage. If there's anything you'd like to know about the Magellano range, please get in touch.
