With windsurfing from Sardinia to Tuscany in 9 hours: the feat of the champion Matteo Iachino

From Sardinia to Tuscany by windsurf: an impossible feat? Not for Matteo Iachino. The champion left from Golfo Aranci and arrived in Livorno.

A journey that lasted 9 hours and 48 minutes to cover 378 kilometres.

Iachino, born in Savona in 1989 and raised in Albisola Superiore, started windsurfing when he was 8 years old, «for fun, but I didn't like it, but two years later, together with some friends, I wanted to show that I knew how to go, like kids do, in short, and I started again." In a short time the first races arrived and a climb that led him to become the first Italian to win a world cup, as well as European champion. Last October 18th he was the protagonist of a historic crossing.

From Sardinia to Livorno, which route did you choose?

«I started from Cala Spada, a cove on the tip of Golfo Aranci, that part overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and prevented me from going around, in Livorno I arrived at the Tre Ponti Surf Center where there is a windsurfing school of friends, which they are very careful about taking care of the youth class."

How did the idea come about?

«Last year I crossed the Ligurian Sea from Imperia to Giraglia, in Corsica, and a month later my team and I sat down with a friend of mine and we said "what are we doing in 2023?". One of the first options was to cross the Tyrrhenian Sea. Vittorio Serra, a Sardinian surfer, had made the crossing starting from Gallura, in stages, touching Corsica, Elba and Piombino in a week. I wanted to do something more and in just one day."

What was the plan?

«See how far you can windsurf on a dry day, without sleeping. Looking at the distances I evaluated the Golfo Aranci-Livorno. Golfo Aranci is a strategic point, ferries arrive, everyone knows where it is. And then I wanted to reach the northernmost point possible, skirting Corsica, going to Piombino and then going back up. Livorno has one of the most important clubs in Italy, they are friends, it was the right destination."

Everything studied?

«In reality Stefano Camera, who helps me with the organisation, was very sceptical: 280 km on the map, with the islands in the middle... I was more positive. I thought: if it goes badly I'll stop first."

Had he prepared well?

«Of course, from a material, physical point of view, with the search for possible partners such as Yamaha Marine of Olbia which supported us with Lomar Cantieri and decided to take part in this undertaking without knowing, in reality, whether we would be able to bring it complete. Then there were the photographers, the media team: Giovanni Tesei, Silvio Gandolfo, Riccardo Piombo for assistance and for the drone, Walter Scotto who is a strong windsurfer of Ligurian origin. Lorenzo Orru, captain of the boat, who is 74 years old and amazed me: he was really smart. And my partner, Blanca Alabau, who took care of all the social media and live shows."

What was the average speed?

«20 knots, 38.3 km per hour».

What wind was there?

«We had a “waiting period” from 5 to 25 October to have a southern wind, from south south-east, and on the 18th there was an excellent, relaxed sirocco».

What path did he take?

«I wanted to sail along Corsica but there was no wind and I stayed far from the coast, for 3 hours I didn't see land at 360 degrees. At that moment I was a little discouraged, my idea was a little romantic: I see La Maddalena, through Bonifacio, when Montecristo arrives through and I go to the islands, but it didn't go like that."

And what did he do?

«I went straight to Montecristo, it is a small and very high island but before seeing it it was hard, without having any points of reference. I was trying to concentrate, to mark time."

Did you use a particular windsurf?

«The Foil, almost all the races are held like this, “flying” over the water, this allows you to go faster with a lighter wind. It's a bit like the evolution of windsurfing, at higher average speeds, you don't hit the water, it has a high performance."

What was he wearing?

«Wetsuit with short sleeves, the most comfortable, on my shoulders a six-liter backpack with water and mineral salts, and a small tube on my chest that allowed me to drink, every half hour I ate an energy bar with cereals and honey. A hat on my head because last year I sailed for six hours and got burned."

Was he alone during the crossing?

«I had the assistance of a boat for emergencies. I took a very wide zigzag route, the wind forces you to go in a certain way, it's not like the car, that's it. The boat had a direction and went straight to the point, every now and then we crossed paths but then we got lost because the radio broke, halfway between Golfo Aranci and Montecristo I was completely alone. At that moment it was hard, even though I had a GPS on me and one was connected to the Italian Yacht Club of Genoa, for which I compete: they could follow me live and saw me live thanks to the signal. If necessary, help would have found me in a short time."

How was he oriented?

«I knew more or less the direction with respect to the wind, which was constant, I knew that I had to go more "lean", with the right foot in front. From the boat they never corrected me. At the beginning I had to "go down" and when I saw Montecristo then Pianosa would arrive, from there I would see Elba. After the islands I had to go to Piombino and go back up the coast. In reality, having crossed Elba to the west instead of passing south and then east, because this was the suggestion given to me by a local friend, at the height of Monte Capanne, there was no wind behind the mountain. And so I returned towards the west, took the wind channel again and remained in the middle of the sea towards Livorno".

Is Sardinia a paradise for windsurfing?

«Yes, without a doubt, it is the top in Italy. My coach, Giuseppe Pugliese, is from Cagliari, I have been coming to the island since I was a kid, I am very attached to Sardinia. In the few free periods it is a beautiful destination for my holidays."

The slogan of your company was "One sea for all", what does it mean?

«We have only one sea for those who are sporty and for those who are not, we would like it clean, without plastic, without waste, we must take care of it. My idea is to raise awareness among the new generations, especially the Ligurian ones because we are on the sea but the kids don't experience it. Together with the Il Porto dei Piccoli association we organize days to explain what windsurfing is, respect for the marine world, in short the crossing is a sporting and social project, I would like to reach the younger ones by talking about things that can fascinate them, and these undertakings they can reach them more easily."

What are you preparing now?

«The World Cup in Japan, I have already started training».

A particular memory of this Sardinia-Tuscany undertaking?

«The girl who made me coffee in Cala Spada before leaving. She lived back there, she arrived with the tray, I couldn't refuse. It was also very good, I don't know what it's called but I would like to thank her, she was welcoming like all Sardinians."