Bella Mente Racing celebrated Cinco de Mayo in style taking first place at GAASTRA PalmaVela in the Mini Maxi Class. After finishing out Saturday in second place by half a point, the team took back its lead after the final coastal race of the regatta today. Next up on the schedule is Giraglia Rolex Cup in St. Tropez, France on June 8th.
Bella Mente Racing practicing in Mallorca before GAASTRA PalmaVela begins (Photo Credit (Jesús Renedo)
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 2nd, Bella Mente Racing will be competing at GAASTRA PalmaVela in Mallorca, Spain. To follow the team during the event, please visit Real Club Nautico de Palma’s Facebook Page and Twitter profile. We will also be updating the Bella Mente Facebook Page daily!
Bella Mente Racing arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain on Friday, April 19th and the team has already begun what will be a full week of preparation both on and off the water before its first event, Palma Vela, on May 1st. Stay tuned for more photos throughout the week!
Bella Mente is currently enroute to Mallorca, Spain after being loaded in West Palm Beach, Florida yesterday, March 29.
Bella Mente Racing left Antigua on Monday, February 25, after competing in the RORC Caribbean 600. Check out some more photos from the race that the team took first in IRC 0 and second in IRC overall.
Video put together by Dee Smith
photo credit left Kevin Johnson Photography; photo credit right Ocean Images/Team Phaedo
Bella Mente Racing took first in IRC 0 and second in IRC overall at the RORC Caribbean 600, crossing the finish line in approximately 48 hours (3 days 4 hours and 52 min on corrected time).
“The RORC conducted a superb distance race,” said owner and drive Hap Fauth. “For the RORC Caribbean 600 we all anticipated 20 to 25 knots, but a confused sea state and lots of turns made for a super challenging 48 hour event for us.”
photo credit RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
Bella Mente in Antigua before its first day of practice
Bella Mente Racing is shifting into high gear for the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, February 18, which will take the team on a 600 mile race around eleven Caribbean islands.
“We are looking forward to our first offshore test of the 2013 season,” said Bella Mente Racing manager Rob Ouellette “Most of the crew arrived in Antigua on Thursday and have been busy prepping Bella Mente for the race. Conditions now are forecasted to be fresh for the start on Monday with 20-25 knots of wind. It could be a quick one so stay tuned!”
To follow Bella Mente Racing during the race, visit http://caribbean600.rorc.org/blog/news/index.html
Bella Mente got into Antigua on Monday, February 11 in preparation for the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts Monday, February 18. The trip took a little over five days with the last 30 hours beings exceptionally quick. The team is taking this time to practice and do some work on the boat.
Bella Mente is expected in Antigua this afternoon/evening. As of yesterday, February 10, at 15:15 its current position was 21.31N and 064.03W – approximately 180 miles North of the Sombrero Passage (Anguilla) with approximately 300 miles to Antigua. The delivery team of seven left with the boat on Wednesday, February 6 from West Palm Beach, Fla.
The original Bella Mente Racing campaign kicked off in 2006 with Key West Race Week, and since then owner and skipper Hap Fauth has had three additional racing yachts in the program.
Launched in September of 2018, the current Bella Mente is a Maxi 72 designed by Botin Partners in Spain and built by New England Boatworks in Rhode Island.
