Guidi onboard a Class 40 with Andrea Fantini for the "nodoXnodo" project
by Juliet Boyles 22 Jul 2021 18:53 NZST
Guidi onboard a Class 40 with Andrea Fantini for the `nodoXnodo` project © Enrica Pastore
Competitiveness, friendship, research, sustainability: these are the main "ingredients" of this brand-new partnership that brought together Guidi Srl, an Italian manufacturer of nautical accessories, and Italian yachtsman Andrea Fantini. At its heart is a great love for sailing, especially ocean sailing, and the challenges it demands.
The shared values between the company and the yachtsman from Ferrara, Italy, has been realised in the "nodoXnodo" project. The idea was conceived last year during the lockdown, and today it has finally reached the operational stage.
Preparation of the new Class 40, which will carry the Guidi name for the entire project, is close to completion in Brittany - France. Fantini will be skippering the boat and will be joined by another top-level yachtsman, Frenchman Charles Louis Mourruau.
The Guidi/Fantini partnership focuses on the importance and strength of bonds, an approach driven by Fantini, and is symbolised by the knot with the slogan "A human adventure". This was immediately endorsed by Guidi as it is perfectly in line with the principles the company follows and applies in its daily activity.
From the racing side, this project will see Fantini and Mourruau participating in a series of regattas, including the Les Sables/Horta/Les Sables, between France and the Azores Islands starting on June 27th, the Rolex Fastnet Race kicking off on August 8th from Cowes on the Isle of Wight with arrival in Cherbourg in France, after having rounded the lighthouse of the mythical Irish rock, and the transoceanic Transat Jacques Vabre on November 7th which runs on the historic "coffee route" between France and Martinique.
"These well-known, international events are of significant value and offer us the opportunity to gain valuable feedback on our products in real-life situations. Fantini's experience in sailing, often gained in extreme conditions, will be used by Guidi in the research and development of its products (valves, strainers, etc.). His advice will be very valuable to the company, which is heavily investing in research in both materials and technical solutions," comments Alessandro Guidi, R&D Manager.
As Guidi's exclusive national distributor in the UK, Barrus will be supporting Guidi and the Class 40 at the Rolex Fastnet Race in August with a presence at the Race Village in Cowes.
The build-up to the Class 40 regattas will be covered across Guidi and Barrus's social media channels and those of Fantini, who has a huge following base.
Guidi also supports the race=care project from the solidarity sailing team set up to help those in need, including doctors from the Africa-CUAMM (University College of Aspiring Missionary Doctors) of Padova-Italy, which serves in sub-Saharan African countries. Guidi Class40 will be seen across Europe and Central America.
Fair winds to Andrea and Charles!