Ocean Globe Race: Translated 9 in the lead of the most human race ever
by Translated 9 14 Jan 10:01 UTC
Translated 9 - Ocean Globe Race 2023 © Translated
Translated 9, the sailboat representing Translated, one of the world's leading AI-based language solution companies, has just sat sail from Auckland, New Zealand, to Punta del Este, Uruguay, for the third leg of the Ocean Globe Race, the regatta celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first crewed sailing competition around the world.
This unique regatta limits the number of professionals to 30% of the crew and only allows teams to use technology that was available in the 1970s. The Translated 9 crew has already won the first two legs of the race and is now taking on their most daunting test yet: conquering Cape Horn.
Starting as the underdog, Translated 9 earned success in the first two legs of the race, from Southampton to Cape Town in IRC (which measures time compensated, an official OGR classification that allows a fair race between different boats) and from Cape Town to Auckland in IRC and Line Honors. Translated 9 has not only achieved a milestone in sailing history, as the first Italian sailboat to win not just one, but two legs of the crewed round-the-world race, but it currently boasts a significant lead and has earned its place among the candidates challenging for the top of the spot, along with France's Pen Duick VI, owned and skippered by Marie Tabarly, Finland's Spirit of Helsinki, and Britain's Maiden, with an all-female crew.
The success of the first two legs of the race will, therefore, have to be repeated in the third challenging leg that will put Marco Trombetti's crew to the test against the legendary Cape Horn. To do so, it will be crucial to showcase all the human values and technical skills that have brought Translated 9 this far.
Crossing Cape Horn, the most epic and dangerous sea passage for sailors around the world, is a feat that, since 1616, has only been accomplished by a few boats (source capehorners.org). It presents extreme conditions generated by the convergence of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans: with currents among the most powerful, relentless winds up to 50 knots, and waves that can reach 30 meters in height.
Marco Trombetti and Isabelle Andrieu, co-founders of Translated, are both members of the crew. Trombetti, one of the two team's co-skippers, was completely new to sailing up until three years ago, when he decided to take part in the most human challenge ever: to prove that when you bring people with great values and attitudes together, even challenges that seem impossible can be overcome.
Trombetti explains: "At Translated, we love difficult challenges, the ones that seem beyond our abilities, the ones that scare us at first, but for which we have admiration. We love them because they make us and the people around us grow." Andrieu, team coach of Translated 9, adds: "Today, with AI dominating the news, we want to remember the centrality of humans in this beautiful revolution. We believe that only a symbiosis between humans and machines will allow both to face the new challenges of humanity, while respecting human dignity".
The crew consists of 17 members of 7 different nationalities (Italy, France, Turkey, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States), who were selected on the basis of their motivations and attitudes, from over 1,500 enthusiasts who applied to participate in the project.
The crew members who will face this next stage of the race are Marco Trombetti (co-skipper), Simon Curwen (co-skipper), Nico Malingri (chief mate), Pietro Luciani (navigator), Niccolò Banfi, Baptiste Gillot Devillers, Derin Deniz Binaroglu, Ezgim Mistikoglu, Connie Stevens and Emiel Joye.
Isabelle Andrieu (co-founder and chairwoman of Translated) will join the crew in Punta del Este for the final leg, while Teresa Marshall, Paul Marshall, Simon Curven, Maretta Bigatti, Sophie Fontanesi, and Marco Borgia have already tackled the previous stages. In fact, the project allows for changes in the crew at each leg, offering more people the opportunity to participate in the dream of a lifetime.
Vittorio Malingri, who led the boat as co-skipper and technical manager for legs 1-2, having made significant contributions to both the refitting and boat preparation, as well as the crew training, now resigned.
Simon Curwen, was asked to take a step forward and play as co-skipper for this leg along with Marco Trombetti who stated: "I built this project with Vittorio and wanted to finish it with him. He prepared the boat, trained the young crew, and won the first two legs — a true master of the sea. Unfortunately, today we start leg 3 with 72 hours of penalties for the non-authorized sail repairs. It would be hard to win leg 3, but we are still well ahead on the cumulative ranking. We designed the new team to keep winning, and I think we will succeed. Simon Curwen, Translated 9's navigator, winner of the Golden Globe Race Chichester Class, and nominated as the best sailor of the year in 2023 by the UK Sailing Association, is becoming Translated 9's co-skipper. Nico Malingri is confirmed as Chief Mate, and Pietro Luciani is the new Navigator. For the young members of the crew, including Nico, this is an opportunity to take on new responsibilities. Each one can take a small piece of the work that Vittorio was doing for everyone. Today, "We Believe in Humans" is for the young crew members who will be doing something they think is bigger than what they can do".
Simon Curwen stated: "The amazing team of Translated 9 are pulling together with incredible energy to prepare Translated 9 for the start of Leg 3 of the Ocean Globe Race on Sunday. I am pleased to be able to assist the Translated Team by stepping into the role of skipper for this leg, supported by this highly motivated and capable crew. We will all be looking to realize the potential of the boat and team on this exciting leg across the Pacific Ocean, around Cape Horn to the finish in Punta del Este".
Translated 9 is not only a sporting adventure, but also a project that brings great individuals together from the world of technology and language. A sister sailboat, led by seven-time world champion sailor Paul Cayard, winner of the Whitbread Round The World in 1997-98, is hosting ocean training sessions in San Francisco Bay, dedicated to those who believe that with courage, determination and resilience, anything is possible.
Paul Cayard, is also an ambassador and consultant for Translated 9. Every week, he provides the public with detailed analysis of the strategy and possible tactics for the current race. His analysis and other information on the Translated 9 project are available at translated.com/9 and on Instagram translated_9.