Giovanni Bracco

[Manos]

THE LEGENT

You can find the history of his acheivements on this link

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Is all in Italian unfortunately but if you have a good translator, time and patients you can read his sories and adventure which are very interesting IMHO.

KEEPING RIBING INTERNATIONAL

[Manos]

I have now traslated 4 of the 15 stages of the PARIS raid 2003

Also this year we were terribly late but, unfortunately, this is the penalty that one pays when they want to be able to experience new RIBs that are so new that still are not been procuced. Therefore, I agreed to put the RIB to its paces above its limits and to find its eventual limits that may have to be corrected from the factory before introducing the boat on the market. How much above the limits this RIB will be tested I am about to describe.
Finally here we are the MAR.CO25 CABINATO and my self as the big day of the departure has arrived. Thanks to of my friends Andrea and Ester we were escorted from a true flottila of dinghies which followed us until the island of Elba.
The day was spend in much of a good company, and after the usual ritual one of the one thousand, I departed the cheerful company at 16:00 to start finally the beginning of the Paris 2003 Raid.
I am already rather late and as I am about to arrive at Solenzara, a small port situated in the south part of the Corsica.
I am little more of 70 miles away and the sea is calm, is a very plesent quite ride and is all due to the good and smooth keel of the MAR.C025 and also the considerable silent Yamaha 225.

2° stage. The sea is good also today. In half an hour I will be about three miles from Caprera when I hear a strong blow under the keel of the boat and a moment later the roar of the engine which jumpt outside of the sea from something than clashed against it. I was lucky as I had my hand on the thorttle and in a split second I closed it.
The boat is motionless and I look around but there is nothing to see. I do not know if there was an eventual damage because the transom of stern of this model is built for double engines.
I started the engine and with much caution I introduce some rotation to the propeller fearing to hear some noise. I was lucky to see that the engine worked OK and it did not jumpet outside of the water; I started to accelerate very slowly and all seems to be in place. I am releifed however, I decidedc to go to Cannigione where if is necessary I can count on the help of Mark, and another three good friends that are on holidays in this area. While I traveled the few miles that separate my self from the island, the GPS begins to play up. The screen every so often darkens to brighten up again for a few seconds. All these evenet do not do anything else but to strengthen the idea that I have reach for Cannigione without delay. I push the boat until the beginning of the gulf where I beached the Mar. Co to insoect for any damages. I found a small scratch under the fin of the engine and I cannot see anything under the hull. I thought that I was worried for nothing and that I had a lot of luck with me. Instead, more complex is the problem with the GPS. This one I resolved with a telephone call to Mark Bianco, person in charge of the New Harbors that distributes in Italy all products for the Plastimo. A new Navman 5500 would arrive at Alghero in two days. I am in a huirry but I need to be patient and I will make the most of it passing my time here here with my friends.

3° stage. Is 08:00 when I leave Cannigione with route towards Alghero. The sea is reasonable and due to the haze I cannot see much detail in the distance where is Stintino. Passed the tight arm of sea between Stintino and the island of the Asinara however all returns back to normal and I am motoring towards the port of Alghero. The first thing that I had to do is the open the throttle in full so that I get there quickly, then I will seek a dock. I’m there in no time. I finished taking some fuel and I begin it search for a jetty. A small dingy with a man in it asks me to follow to the right place. I never had such a thing happening to me. Following a dingy to a jetty. Usually out of habit this is a routine reserved just for the big yachts, certainly a welcome difference. The manager of the jetty Sardamar, now I can call it friendly Federico, is a rare example of exquisite courtesy united with a large knowledge of the seafaring art, how much of better can an Italian do in these ports. He also speaks Italian. I waited all day for the delivery of an express mail package packed of nautical material. While I was waiting I succeeded to track the problem of the other GPS. It does not seem that electic panel is OK.

4° stage; Almost I despaired when to 11.00 I get a telephone call from Nautical Ondablu that tells me the arrival of the new GPS. A swift run with the bicycle to my friend Mirco Columbus and after a half hour in we all become all friend. Is 11.30 and I leave the jetty of Port Mahon in the island of Minorca. Already I have lost two days. Motoring fast and in a few hours the sea goes from force 3 to force 4 but this does turn and the larger waves do not seem to impress the Twentyfive so I can maintain a medium speed of around 20 knots. At 20.30 there is the entrance to the long channel that marks the beginning of the port. I head straight for the petrol station, is late and I cannot I fill up. Have to wait until the next day. I managed to find a secure and free place to moore for the night. A plesent final ending of a determined positive day. Later on, on the table, I do the first accounts of the services that I received and it seems to me that the consumptions is good, but for a serious check I should wait for the supplying of tomorrow.


If you are interested I will traslate and post the remaining. Please let me know. Thanks

[Barbarossa]

Hallo Manos !
Diese sommer ich will mache eine "cruise" mit deine "Legend RIB".

Ich bin in Meganissi in July

[Manos]

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