Press Release august 29th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

NANNI DIESEL FINISHES THE SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO PLACED 20TH.

Pietro D’Alì: “ I will be back….to win”

In difficulty during the entire Solitaire event due to speed even when sailing under spinnaker, the Italian skipper – Pietro D’Alì finished the 4^th and final leg - from Dingle to Concarneau – yesterday (Monday) in 11^th place, only two hours and 21 minutes after the winner of this leg: Gérald Veniard. Within the general classification, reported by Nicolas Troussel, the Nanni Diesel skipper closes this event in 20^th place amongst 44 competitors. He therefore comes full circle in this magnificent season (winner of the Transat AG2R, 2^nd in the ‘Solo Med’ ) and assures us that he will return next year….much stronger. To win.

“ My assessment is that I am obviously disappointed with my classification, considering I came here to compete as a protagonist. But I found my self in difficulty due to a speed problem even with the spinnaker and was not in a position to truly increase my chances. That’s the bottom line: if one does not have the correct speed at all moments, one cannot hope to win such a high level event…but I still thoroughly enjoyed it, learnt a lot and will return next year and do my best to win”. This morning, along the Concarneau wharf, Pietro D’Alì’s spirits are still high, after recuperating for just one night and half a day following “an extremely tough last leg” from Dingle to Concarneau in which the entire fleet started off with strong winds (up to 30 knots) before finding themselves stuck in an area totally void of wind just 100 miles from the arrival. Areas with absolutely no wind whatsoever which only three boats managed to avoid: Gérald Veniard (Scutum), arriving 1st in this last leg, his third win this year, and gaining 3^rd place in the general classification, behind Thierry Chabagny (Litoral) and the overall winner of this 2006 edition Nicolas Troussel (Financo).

“An extraordinary season”

Pietro D’Alì himself, achieved a good result in this last leg having arrived in 11^th place, but, obviously is not totally satisfied. “I got off to a good start from Dingle and all went well until I reached Fastnet; after that I made a couple of small errors and above all my lack of speed prevented me from gaining ground and going for ‘the win’! On arrival I felt exhausted and disappointed. One cannot always win and I have, however, had a formidable season – winning the Transat and gaining 2^nd place in the Solo Med’. With sailing one can easily take part in world championships all one’s life without winning one single event!” The Nanni Diesel skipper is most certainly not one to ‘lose heart’!

Pietro D’Alì will most certainly return and take part in the next ‘Solitaire’. “I have full intentions to return and…why not….fulfil my dream of winning this event. It is, in any case, the best possible preparation towards the project of a bigger boat and one day taking part in the Vendée Globe”, affirms the Italian skipper.

For the moment, Pietro D’Alì will allow himself of few more days of rest before involving himself in other nautical ventures. He will then move on to the FARR 20 world championships at Newport, a number of SWAN 44 races, the ‘Middle Sea Race’ and the Sydney-Hobart before training once more on the Figaro Béneteau.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

Press Release august 24th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì, 18^th upon arrival at Dingle: “ I will do my best in the last leg”

Tuesday, in the Bay of Dingle where not less than 35 boats out of 44 in the fleet found themselves almost aligned just two miles from the finishing line, the situation was not so good for the Nanni Diesel Italian skipper! Victory for Gérald Veniard (Scutum), but almost no change in regards to the general classification in which Nanni Diesel is placed 20^th “I will give it my ‘all’ in the last leg”, assures Pietro D’Alì.

During last night, amidst the Irish fog, Pietro D’Alì crossed the finishing line a 0,46just 10 minutes and 9 seconds after the winner Gérard Véniard (Scutum) who succeeded in gaining the lead just one hundred meters from the finish, in front of Eric Drouglazet (Pixmania com)and the debutant Gildas Mahé (Le Comptir Immobilier).

After a tough battle lasting 3 ½ days along 470 miles, against strong winds and high seas from Saint-Gilles- Croix de Vie, all the boats arrived very close together…the first 35 within half an hour from each other! “It was really amazing to arrive so close together, after 470 miles battling against the wind and the sea. This leg has been really tough and complicated due to weather conditions…and towards the end we were all sailing with our spinnakers, when suddenly we found ourselves in a position of having to put up the genoa and the wind suddenly dropped. After that it was all a bit like a lottery!”, affirms the Nanni Diesel skipper.

“Any one of the boats could have won” A victim of data processing problems that penalized him at the start of the first leg, Pietro D’Alì has not been too successful in this leg from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie to Dingle. But.. he looks for no excuse and is ready resume his sailing. “I made a slight mistake at the start, which put me behind. But I gained some ground during the first and second night when I came close to the first 10. There was not much wind along the coast. The third night was then very strange as the forecast did not coincide to what had been foreseen, and twice the wind dropped completely; there was a very dense fog and visibility was zero; the finish was absolutely incredible and any boat could have won”

This is what high sea regatta are all about. Up to now there has been only one ‘classic’ leg ( the first one) and two others which have been extreme: with incredible gusts between Santander and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie and the other with this arrival with so many boats so close which has never ever happened in 37 events of the Solitaire.

Pietro D’Alì has perhaps not achieved, for the moment, the results he had hoped for, but his spirits are still strong. “ One cannot always win” explains Mauro Piani, the Nanni Diesel sports director.”The Solitaire history has proven its difficulty, and only skippers such as Jean Le Cam or Philippe Poupon have confirmed this and not always on board the same boat. The standard is very high and homogeneous. One must not forget that Pietro could have won last year…Therefore, even though we have the desire to take part in the Vendée Globe, we will return to the Solitaire; it is extremely formative; look at Michel Desjoyeaux and Alain Gautier who initially won this regatta before winning the Vendée Globe….”

Pietro, at the end of this leg..slept, he slept a lot. “tough, very tough, extremely cold..impossible to remain constantly out on deck.” What now? “Now there is one more leg to go, most certainly with a lot of wind, and I will give it my ‘all’ to achieve a good result. As I always do.”

The boats set out again on Friday towards Concarneau for the fourth and final leg of this Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

Press Release august 17th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì (Nanni Diesel): “ an attempt at winning one leg”.

The Santander-Saint Gilles Croix de Vie leg, although the shortest in this regatta, was absolutely incredible: two skippers, Nicolas Troussel and Thierry Chabagny, choosing an extreme westward course, won this leg distancing by a good ten hours the rest of the fleet: an unprecedented event. Pietro D’Alì, on board Nanni Diesel, following the direct course towards east, was deceived, similarly to the other 42 participants, by an area hit by a total absence of wind for a period of 12 hours. Currently in 19^th position within the general classification, the Nanni Diesel skipper is still determined to give his best and even attempt to perhaps win one of the last two legs. The fleet will take off once again tomorrow morning, this time towards Ireland.

“I do not intend to keep an eye on the general classification. This leg, although the shortest, has been incredible: the weather forecast was constantly wrong and all weather conditions, apart form a bit of luck, favoured the two boats which were in the lead. Troussel and Chabagny are both very quick and great sailors; the advantage they now have is impossible to catch up on.” , On the wharf in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, although placed 23^rd in this last leg and with over 11 hours distance from those in the lead – placing him 19^th in the general classification – Pietro D’Alì remains positive. Obviously the Nanni Diesel skipper was hoping to achieve more, but he is also aware that “ These situations are also part of high-sea sailing! At times incomprehensible events take place. Having said that, amongst those in my group following the course towards east, I believed I was sailing well, searching for even the tiniest gust in order to move ahead, always in contact with the best. For a long period I was in a group with Nicolas Bérenger and we thought we were in a good position, amongst the first 10, and then it all became similar to a lottery and we were all astounded….there was absolutely no wind, the opposite to what the weather forecast had foreseen.”

Tomorrow: the departure towards Ireland.

Having overcome yesterday’s disappointment and after a good sleep, Pietro D’Alì is once again in good spirits. Therefore, he is not dwelling on the general classification which currently seems inaccessible with the advantage gained by Nicolas Troussel and Thierry Chabagny. But it is certainly not the moment to give up on the race. “As always, my desire is to sail. To sail well and be in contact with the best, attempt to remain amongst the first ten and then, perhaps, to be blessed with a touch of luck which at times allows one to transform a 10^th place with a 1^st……

What I wish to attempt right now is to win one of the two remaining legs, to navigate in a correct manner, and enjoy myself. The boat is in perfect condition , even though I have not yet reached the same speed as last year in the Solitaire….. .but I am working on it1 The other positive point is that I am more aware of the needs of my body and recuperate better.”

This last element relative to the physical conditions of the sailors is extremely important as the time they have in which to recuperate is very limited: already, tomorrow morning, the regatta committee will announce the departure of one more long and difficult leg, without doubt with the wind against them, towards Dingle, Ireland: their next destination. It is not yet known if the course will be shortened or not (545 miles foreseen) and if the departure (foreseen for 11am) will be moved forward by a few hours, allowing the skippers to rest for a little longer.

But what is known that it will be yet another great adventure, the third, second-last, of this 37^th edition of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. Two more legs for the Nanni Diesel skipper, in which he can try to stand out. We already knew that that was his intention. Starting tomorrow.

Press Release august 14th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì (Nanni Diesel) on his way in the 2^nd leg

Along with the other 43 competitors in the Soitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, Pietro D’Alì left Santander on Sunday afternoon on this 2^nd leg towards the port of destination Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, passing by the Birvideaux lighthouse, north of Belle-Ile. In this leg, with 314 miles to cover, the Italian Nanni Diesel Skipper is there to give his utmost on board his Figaro Bénéteau.

“I am certain that Pietro will do his best; after that….what will happen is already written, and it will be his destiny which will, at the end, decide.” Having joined her ‘family’ in order to encourage her skipper, Amalia Festa, Nanni Diesel President, yesterday, Sunday, was extremely philosophical whilst standing on the Santander wharf just before the fleet picked up the moorings on their departure for the 2nd leg of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. Having arrived 18th, just one hour and forty minutes after the winner in the 1st leg from Cherbourg to Santander, Pietro D’Alì kept smiling and did not speak anymore, as he had at his arrival, about his concerns regarding the spinnaker. “Last year I won one leg and came 1st amongst those making their debut, this year winning the Transat AG2R with Kito de Pavant and conquered 2nd place in the Solo Med…..you know…one cannot always win in sailing events, especially considering the extremely high level of the skippers involved in the Solitaire….”

Moreover, no feeling of resignation transpires. Yesterday, at the departure in the magnificent bay of Santander, Nanni Diesel was one of the first to cross the line at the blast of the cannon….. and -without doubt in order to avoid possible complaints on the part of other participants- preventively returning to cross it again. It is so that Nanni Diesel lost a few miles along the spectacular coastal course, running with a north-west wind averaging 10 knots. Nothing dramatic.

Then came a dark and difficult night, with uncomfortable waves and a weak wind right on course which forcing – for the moment – all the solitaire sailors to

sail close hauled to tack their way back up wind. The zephyrs are weak and for the moment not very significant. This Monday morning, August 14h, at the bearing at 4.30 am, Pietro D’Alì was placed 30th, just 3, 9 miles behind Yann Elies, the skipper currently in the lead. All is yet to be seen. .in the long course to Saint – Gilles – Croix de Vie, via the Birvideaux, north of Belle-Ile. This morning, the first amongst fleet where directed south of the Gulf of Gascogne, 270 miles from the arrival at Vandea, currently foreseen for the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mauro Piani, sports Director for the Nanni Diesel Sailing Team, also remains philosophical:

“The ‘label’ of ‘favourite’ is not an easy image to carry. In sailing and especially within the Figaro class, one of the most arduous in the world, there are at least 15 professional boats that could win instantly…Therefore they are all in it to …win…to be placed 15th. We shall just wait and see; I know with all certainty that Pietro always gives his utmost to emerge and achieve a good result. It is the best way to convince a sponsor to accompany him along in a 60 ft boat design in order to participate in the Vendée Globe.”

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

Press Release august 10th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì (Nanni Diesel): “The race is still on”

Last night, Wednesdasy 9^th, at the end of the first leg of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, Nanni Diesel reached Santander in 18^th place. But, although just one hour and 40 minutes behind the current winner of this first leg, Pietro D’Alì still believes in his chances of gaining a good place. 

The race is still on. There are 3 legs to go”. Last night, upon arrival at Santander, placed 18^th in this first leg of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, Pietro D’Alì, the Italian Nanni Diesel Skipper, made a good effort in keeping his spirits high. One hour and 40 minutes earlier, Gerald Véniard (Scutum) had won this long leg of 690 miles from Cherbourg via the English coast, reaching the Spanish port. “It is true, I have 1hour and 40 minutes to catch up on which is a lot but at the same time not too much and that is what high sea sailing is about… the smallest error can cost you a lot and I made one at Start Point, just below England, by not taking a northerly course.. After that, we sailed for 400miles with the wind behind us and a direct course after the Wolf Rock lighthouse, so it was not simple to catch up on lost time. In actual fact I felt a little bit less at ease with my new spinnaker”.

No intention whatsoever of giving up. After all, the Vendée Globe hero and twice winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre Jean Pierre Dick is worse of arriving 37^th and 5 hours after the winner.. Eric Drouglazet is also behind Pietro, whilst Kito de Pavant, the other great favourite arrived 12^th, only 20 minutes ahead of Pietro D’Alì.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed it all”

There are still nearly 1300 miles of sea to cover in 3 legs before reaching Concarneau at the end of the month. “Many things can happen…”affirms the Nanni Diesel skipper…such as winning a leg, just like last year at La Rochelle.

Now, before leaving for Saint Gilles Croix via Belle Ile next Sunday, Pietro and the other 43 skippers participating in this Solitaire have a few days during which they can rest, recharge their batteries, examine the weather forecast… There will most certainly be a lot of talk about the ideal weather conditions during this first leg, including an ‘express’ crossing of the Gulf of Gascogne. There will be a lot of comments about the sea and the beauty of sailing. “We thoroughly enjoyed it; there were some exceptional long surfs, and magnificent sailing conditions. Whatever the situation, I always feel great on the water”. The strain? “Compared to last year, my sleeping pattern has improved – in fact I sleep whenever I feel the need; I am able to manage my body a lot better and feel fine. My face though is totally sunburnt…..I believe I waited too long before putting on some sun-cream!”

These are the Nanni Diesel skipper’s last comments before going off to enjoy a deep sleep and, perhaps, dream about the next leg which will take them all once again towards France. It was going back up in Spain last that year Pietro D’Alì exhibited his best skills and where his talent was noticed by all those interested in high sea sailing.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

Tuesday August 8th 2006-08-08

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì – half way through the first leg and always competitive!

Following a superb take off from Cherbourg and two nights at sea, Pietro D’Alì is currently placed 11^th – 6,5 miles from the leader Gildas Morvan. The Nanni Diesel Skipper is therefore once again in a position to achieve a good result in this first leg of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro

Towards Santander. The weather forecast is also currently excellent, allowing the Solitaire sailors to proceed at an average speed of over 10 knots following the direct course.

“Kito de Pavant says that upon water I am a killer?......But so is he!” Pietro D’alì, upon hearing this anecdote at the start of the race on Sunday afternoon, immediately burst out laughing! They are both great favourites considering they have won almost every event this season, the Nanni Diesel and Group Bel skippers have already covered half the course of this first leg of the Solitaire Afflelou to Santander. There are still 260 miles to go before reaching the Porto of Cantabrie, most probably tomorrow evening or at night between Wednesday and Thursday.

Today, Tuesday morning at 8.30am, the fleet of the 44 Solitaire sailors was in the latitude of Concarneau, with Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) and Charles Caudrelier (Bostik) in the lead. Currently, weather conditions are excellent, with a substantial north-easterly wind, the Figaro Bénéteau II are now moving down towards south in these ideal conditions for any sailor, with great surfs and, at the moment, winds averaging 10 knots. Therefore…great fun on board Nanni Diesel and generally for all the other boats taking part in this Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro.

11.am - this Tuesday morning

All is going well for the Nanni Diesel skipper, who at 8.30am was in 11^th position, 6,5 from the leader. As a weakening in the wind is foreseen, with it possibly totally disappearing by tomorrow in the vicinity of the Spanish coast, Pietro d’Alì still stands a great chance of conquering a good position in this first leg in Spain. “It is true….I appreciate light winds as I feel totally at ease in such conditions” was what Pietro affirmed just before leaving Cherbourg. Since then he has gone beyond the Channel and the English coastline up to Wolf Rock lighthouse and, apart from the choice of a median course within the Channel (less favourable that the one chosen by Gildas Morvan – although he took a great risk b leaving from a very northerly point under England), Nanni Diesel is still well placed.

Pietro D’Alì’s objective in relation to this first half of the leg: “I will do my best to place myself amongst the first 15 as everything could become decisive only a few miles from our arrival at Santander. Then…one must be completely alert and also rested in order to give one’s utmost during the final miles”

It will be then that we will see!

Press Release august 4th 2006

SOLITAIRE AFFLELOU LE FIGARO

Pietro D’Alì: “I am here to win”.

At 43, Pietro D’Alì is not secretive regarding his intentions: he is participating in the Afflelou le Figaro as a protagonist, possibly to win. The Nanni Diesel skipper has good reason to believe this. The leader for a long period last year, winner of one leg at ‘La Rochelle’ and 1^st amongst those making their debut, he would like to achieve ‘just as much’. The Italian skipper is one of the great favourites of this 37^th Solitaire which takes off on Sunday with the first leg: 590 miles from Cherbourg to Santander, along the English coast.

What if – for the first time – an Italian skipper won the ‘Solitaire’? What can be said is that this year such a thought is not impossible. Pietro D’Alì, the Nanni Diesel skipper, has already amazed everyone for his speed and abilities – acquiring not only the nickname ‘Pietro Ferrari’ but high praise from the ‘Professor’ Michel Desjoyeaux. The Italian, ex mainsail trimmer for the Prada team in the America’s cup, had then achieved excellent results: winner of the famous leg at ‘La Rochelle’, remaining, at length, the leader within the general classifications (at the conclusion of the 8^th regatta) and winning the title of 1^st amongst those making their debut.

Since then, Pietro D’Alì has proved to be a real champion: winner of the TRANSAT AG2R with Kito de Pavant and 2^nd in the Cannes-Istanbul with the same co-skipper, also currently one of the 12 great favourites of this regatta.

“Therefore, I am here to win” the Italian skipper affirms without hesitation, just two days before the start at Cherbourg. “I believe I will be part of the 10 boats in a position to possibly win, but when sailing one cannot be sure of anything and it is a lot easier to lose 2 to 3 hours rather than gain them also considering the very high level of the race and the difficult course.”

“I am more serene”

This Friday afternoon NANNI DIESEL and 43 other boats will take part in the Afflelou Prologue – a short course to warm up and of no importance in regards to the classification.

The start has been scheduled for Sunday, beginning with the longest leg of the regatta: 590 miles to Santander, along the English coast and by the Wolf Rock lighthouse: “It will be tough but I am not afraid; right from the start I will have to gain a place amongst the leading fleet and then pay attention to the currents along the English coast”, analyses Pietro D’Alì. However, the Italian skipper affirms to have made progress in regards to an essential point in which he felt a weakness: managing his sleep. “I have learnt to handle my efforts better and rest when I feel it is necessary, giving my utmost in strategic moments. It is very important as last year at ‘La Rochelle’ I recall not sleeping at all and being so tired at the arrival I had no feeling whatsoever in my arms….”

Therefore….Pietro D’Alì will be a ‘tough obstacle’ as many of his opponents say. “The fact is that now I am a lot more experienced; I am also a lot calmer and more serene compared to last year; I am more knowledgeable in regards to the regatta and also the boat which has been prepared to perfection by all the team and my sports Director Mauro Piani. Last year I was going into the ‘unknown’ – confronting myself, as best I could, in regards to solo sailing. This year is another story and I feel confident. I am also fully aware of the fact that on water…anything is possible.”

In Italy, Pietro D’Alì is already a phenomenon – well known by the media: “I have given many interviews on television, on the radio, to newspapers and am now much better known. But one must achieve good results so as to move on to the next stage: to participate in the ‘Vendée Globe’ “

That moment has not yet arrived. Currently there are 1900 miles to cover in four legs…….and Kito de Pavant’s quip to justify: “You are asking me if I will win?......Well, it depends if Pietro is in fornt of me or behind!!”

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

Press Release june 17th 2006

Solo Méditerrannée

Pietro D’Alì (Nanni Diesel) conquers 2nd place, only 1 point behind Kito de Pavant !

By just 1 point, the minimum difference possible, Pietro D’Alì finished the Solo Méditerranée in 2^nd place, right behind his friend Kito de Pavant and in front of Charles Caudrelier. Winners, last month of the Transat AG2R, Kito and Pietro will be on the first two steps of the podium! Today, Saturday, the final leg which could have possibly changed the classification, was cancelled due to strong winds in Porquerolles.

“Yesterday I encountered certain difficulties which probably cost me the victory, but I do not feel any animosity whatsoever. It is an amazing result and I am extremely satisfied and very happy for the winner to be Kito ! He is a good friend of mine !” Pietro D’Alì, the Nanni Italian skipper of the Figaro Bénéteau is to be admired for his sportsmanship as he speaks from Porquerolles where, due to winds over 30 knots, the fleet of the 29 solo sailors were forced to remain alongside the wharf. The final leg was cancelled.

Therefore, following the two legs disputed yesterday, Friday, it is the result of the general classification which counts as the final one, celebrating Kito de Pavant as the winner, with just 1 point of advantage over Pietro D’Alì. “This time he is the winner; perhaps next time it will be me!”, jokes the Nanni skipper. “With Kito we train together, we choose our sails together, we won the Transat together, and although we do not sail in an identical manner, we are however both very fast and continually learn from each other”, explains Pietro D’Alì.

A good result before “La Solitaire”.

Can you give us an evaluation of the regatta? “Very positive, starting with the speed of the boat which is good and in which I now have a great deal of faith, an extremely important fact as without that one cannot hope for anything on a Figaro Beneteau”, explains Pietro. “The strongest memory of this 2006 edition will always be the satisfaction of having conquered the longest leg of the regatta: 280 miles from Gruissan to Porquerolles, a leg worth triple.”

“When one is aware of the quality of the skippers involved, winning is always a great moment”, assures Pietro. “Technically everything works, but one can always improve and I can still practice in relation to certain technical stages, for example in being more aggressive at the start.”

It is obvious to all that this ‘almost victory’ satisfies the Italian skipper who is now one of the natural favourites for the classic regatta in August: the ‘Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro’. “…and Yes! I hope it is a good omen!”, he comments, “but…there are very slight differences amongst the best also at the ‘Solitaire’. I believe that this year about 10 to 12 skippers can aim at winning and…yes I think I am part of that group,” assures Pietro who has never hidden his intention of participating in the 2008 Vendée Globe.But that is another story. For the moment, with Amalia Festa, President of Nanni Diesel, Mauro Piani, sports Director, and the rest of his team, the time to celebrate Pietro has arrived. This evening, at the awards ceremony in Porquerolles, the party will most certainly feel an Italian influence!

The end

AMALIA FESTA : “Very important for Italian sailing”

Amalia Festa, President of Nanni Diesel, legitimately feeling very proud of Pietro D’Alì and his Figaro Bénéteau, sponsored by the group that specialize in marine engines. “This classification confirms that Kito and Pietro are inseparable! They make up an amazing tandem! It is such a great pleasure to see them both on the two highest steps of the podium. They motivate each other and learn from one another.”

Having launched herself completely into this adventure three years ago, Amalia now reaps the harvest of her hard work. “At the beginning I was quite alone.” But today, “The Lady of the Seas” (the imaginary character in the poetic book written by Amalia Festa) is extremely happy. “I am happy for the entire Nanni Diesel family, and also for Pietro. He is a rare talent, followed closely by the Italians, becoming ‘their’ skipper, ‘their’ ambassador. The results he has achieved are very important for the sport of sailing in Italy. Our intentions have been fulfilled: we wanted the Figaro Beneteau to become known through us and at the same time propose a different way of doing things, with a true family spirit around a united team directed by Mauro. I believe it was the correct path to follow. Pietro will now concentrate on ‘La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro’ and after that, perhaps on the ‘Course des Falaises’ regatta to conclude the French high-sea championships. Finally, I sincerely hope that he will find a partner with whom to participate in the ‘Vendée Globe’. He most certainly deserves it!”

SOLO MED’ - June 15th 2006-06-15

WINNER OF THIS LAST LEG, NANNI DIESEL HAS CONQUERED FIRST PLACE IN THE GENERAL CLASSIFICATION.

PIETRO D’ALI’ TRIUMPHS AT PORQUEROLLES.

The incredible Pietro D’Alì ! Just like last year at Gruissan, the Italian skipper, at Porquerolles, has achieved victory of a long high sea leg in the Solo Med’….and what a leg!! After an extremely combative 280 miles, Wednesday night the Nanni Diesel skipper won the second last leg worth triple, preceding Eric Douglazet and Corentin Douguet. And it is so that Pietro D’Alì has therefore conquered 1^st place in the general classification, taking the lead with 6 points of advantage on Kito de Pavant and 9 on Charles Caudrelier.

Wednesday June 14^th – 100 pm. “PIETRO FERRARI” has returned ! Just like at Gruissan last year during his first regatta on the Figaro Bénéteau, similarly to the ‘La Rochelle’ last summer at the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro, Pietro D’Alì, the Nanni Diesel skipper, has just conquered a prestigious victory at Porquerolles, slightly preceding Eric Prouglaset and the amazing Corentin Douguet, first in classification amongst those making their debut which last year was won by Pietro D’Alì. “I am truly very happy” says a smiling Pietro DAlì, “even though it was a very tough leg with mild winds and unstable conditions to manage”.

Pietro D’Alì , with this leg at coefficient 3, takes the lead in the general classification, beating his friend Kito de Pavant with whom only a few weeks ago he won the Transat AG2R. In the general classification, the Nanni Diesel skipper, now has 6 points advantage over Kito de Pavant, 9 over Charles Caudrelier and 11 over Gildas Morvan. Considering that the one placed 5^th has 30 extra points, the fight for victory will most probably be disputed between these 4 boats in the four legs (coefficient 1) between now and Saturday.

Constantly in the front group since the start on Monday at Gruissan, alternating the lead with Laurent Pellecuer, Armel Tripon, Gildas Morvan or Eric Drouglazet, Pietro D’Alì has succeeded in holding the lead for the entire distance, before revealing his knowledge of speed as well as the course to follow during the last 50 miles of the leg. “I remained constantly amongst the leaders, sailing rapidly in mild winds and was the first to aim towards the coast where wind conditions were favourable and where I was well placed and at the best angle right up to the finishing point”.

At the conclusion of an emotional arrival, around the magnificent Island of Porquerolles, the Nanni Diesel skipper managed to gain 8 minutes over Eric Drouglazet, an advantage maintained right up to the end. Win the regatta? …An ever increasing thought in Pietro’s mind. “It would be wonderful, but I am on one of four boats who are all very close and the final word has not yet been said. It will be a very competitive battle”, he explains assuring that: “the biggest mistake would be to try and focus on Kito, Charles or Gildas. I believe it will be better to simply concentrate on my own regatta without worrying about what the others are doing.” On Friday and Saturday, around Porquerolles there will certainly be an atmosphere of suspense, great suspense, with another objective on the cards: Pietro D’Alì is already the first foreign skipper to win a number of legs in the Figaro circuit in the Mediterranean. He would not mind being the first non-French skipper to conquer the first step of the podium in this regatta. That he is in the right situation to give substance to this incredible dream is already without doubt a fact.

Solo Méditerranée

One more podium for Pietro D’Alì at the helm of Nanni Diesel.

Pietro D’Alì, the Nanni Diesel Italian skipper is sparkling on the Figaro Bénéteau. Just one month after having won the Transat AG2R with Kito de Pavant, he has just ensured himself 3rd place for the first leg of the Med’ Solo, behind the Australian Liz Wardley and the winner Kito de Pavant.

Thursday, June 8^th 2006 – 3.00 am. “An extremely good result for one’s spiritis! Pietro has sailed very well and has gone from 10^th position to 5^th in the general classification. An excellent result…”

Mauro Piani, sports director for Nanni Diesel, was extremely happy on Wednesday night in Gruissan for the 3^rd place achieved by his protégé Pietro D’Alì, who immediately went to rest, worn out by this last leg of 206 miles which gave no respite. The arrival of the 30 solo sailors was foreseen for Thursday morning at the earliest; instead, the all arrived by Wednesday night…

“Pietro has shown he knows how to fight.”

This leg is worth triple (coefficient 3) in this regatta where every point counts, a regatta in which Pietro D’Alì became known to the French public last year when he in fact won the leg at Gruissan. This year, one had to reach Gruissan leaving from Cassis, passing by the islands of Médes, at the extreme north-east of Spain. The Nanni Diesel skipper, opting for a northern route, did well, almost constantly in front alternating with Kito de Pavant, his team-mate as winners in the last Transat AG2R and during training sessions. And it is the latter who just gained victory, in front of the astonishing, tiny Australian Liz Wardley who has conquered 2^nd place in between two men.

“ A part from this result which is obviously very positive,” adds Mauro Piani, “what pleases me most is that Pietro reacted extremely well, having found himself, close to the finish, in an area with absolutely no wind. At that moment he could have lost it all, but he gave his utmost and reached the podium.”

Considering many amongst the first 10 skippers suffered during this leg, the Nanni Diesel skipper achieved a spectacular comeback within the general classification, going- in just one leg – from 10^th position to 5^th.

It goes without saying that one will confront oneself with him and his Nanni Diesel until June the 17^th, finishing date of the Solo Med’ at Porquerolles.

Today, Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday, will be two days totally dedicated to a well-earned rest; the race will be back on as from this weekend with the legs of the Gruissan Grand Prix. There will then be one more week of competition, during which one leg worth triple for a Pietro D’Alì in top form to race. It looks promising!

Press Release june 5th 2006

Solo Méditerrannée

Pietro D’Ali (Nanni Diesel) : « Everything possible to win some legs »

After four competitive legs on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in Marseille and Cassis, the Nanni Diesel skipper is currently in 10th place in the general classification of the Méditerranée Solo. A good result, considering the extremely high standard of the 30 skippers involved, but not one that fully satisfies Pietro D’Alì. The Nanni Diesel skipper is there to win and will do everything in his power to win a number of legs. He still has two weeks to achieve this.

 “I am slightly disappointed as it took me a great deal of time to find the correct speed; I had a few problems in adjusting the boat and did not do my best in conditions of unstable winds. But everything is now resolved, and the regatta will continue for two more weeks, with some high-sea legs with a coefficient of 3; therefore my spirits are still high: I will give my utmost to win some legs. We will then see the final result at the end of it all.”

These are Pietro D’Alì’s feelings on Monday morning at Cassis, minutes before leaving for the 5th leg of the Solo Med, with mild winds of 7 / 8 knots.For the Nanni Diesel skipper the race is far from over and, although up to now the results are slightly lower than expected, his spirits are high. “We have found the solutions for the boat”, adds Mauro Piani, sports Director for Nanni Diesel, “and now the speed is satisfying and Pietro aspires at gaining ground in the classification, even though this regatta is far tougher than last year’s, the average standard of the outsiders is far higher than usual.”

Up to now, in the four disputed legs, Pietro D’Alì has finished in 8th, 20th, 8th and 15th position.

“I would like to do better. A part from the problems relative to the speed, I made some slight mistakes which can be easily rectified.” confesses the Nanni Diesel skipper, winner of the recent Transat AG2R. “It is better to make these mistakes now rather than during the Afflelou Le Figaro Solitaire,” states Mauro Piani.

There is still a while to go with the regatta ending at Porquerolles on June 17th. There are still coastal routes, buoys to go around and high-sea legs which are worth three times as much and could therefore completely change the classification, considering also that the boats are all close in points.

Almost immediately, right from the start of this leg, Pietro is in the front group with his Nanni Diesel. He tacked around the buoy in front of Casis in 3rd position, with 15 miles to go before ending this 5th leg with the arrival foreseen today at 6.00pm. 

To follow the regatta please consult: www.solo-mediterranee.com

Pietro D’Alì, on board ‘Nanni Diesel’, is currently the favourite for the ‘Mediteranée Single-Handed’ 2006 regatta, which begins tomorrow in Marseille.

The Italian sailor Pietro D’Alì, recent winner together with Kito de Pavant of the Transat AG2R, will participate this week in the Mediterranée single-handed regatta which takes off tomorrow from Marseille. The ‘Nanni Diesel’ skipper is already one of the favourites, only one year after his debut on board the Figaro Bénéteau monotype.

“When sailing, one cannot always win and this year at least a dozen sailors can aim at gaining first place, but that is my reason for being here. On the other hand, it is also very important for me to achieve good results as, apart from this regatta, I hope to find a sponsor to enable me to take part in the next ‘Vendée Globe’. Pietro D’Alì does not disguise his intentions: the ‘Nanni Diesel’ skipper is at the start of the ‘Mediterranée Solitaire – previously General Solitaire – in the capacity of a protagonist.

It could not be otherwise if one considers his victory last year in one lap in this same regatta at Gruissan, followed by his successes in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro (1^st amongst those making their debut and one victory on one lap); he is also without doubt more confident due to his recent victory with Kito de Pavant in the Transat AG2R (short handed) at Saint Barthélemy.

“Stronger than last year”.

“Pietro is in excellent form, the boat is at her best: he was personally in a position to verify this by sailing her himself from Genoa to Masrseille to complete all automatisms relative to single-handed sailing”, adds Mauro Piani, sports Director for the Nanni Diesel Team, who once again this year will remain close to Pietro D’Alì.

As Mauro Piani affirms: “Pietro is stronger than last year, more serene, even more in harmony with the boat, and has learnt to save and balance his energy for the final stages of each leg. He has achieved excellent results which also help in strengthening ones self-esteem and he still has a strong desire to complete a job well-done and win”.

Alternating Olympic routes around the buoys and long deep-sea legs between all ports relative to the regatta - Marseille, Cassis, Gruissan and Porquerolles – the ‘Mediterranée Solitaire’ does not give any respite: it is a regatta based on points, in which every leg counts, certain legs having an estimated coefficient of 2 or 3. This all means that regularity pays off…..and regularity is certainly one of Pietro D’Alì’s qualities; always cited as a possible winner amongst the other pretenders to the podium within the Figaro Bénéteau class.

Today, Wednesday, the prologue has been cancelled due to the strong Mistral in the bay of Marseille (40 knots), but tomorrow, in all seriousness, it will begin, within one or two rounds of the Marseille Grand Prix, where one can foresee as undoubtedly being contentious.

“It will be hard going right from the start, with a lot of hard work involved to achieve a job well-done. In this regatta it is essential to try and avoid making the slightest mistake”, explains Pietro D’Alì, with the confidence of one who knows exactly what he is talking about.

To follow the regatta please consult: www.solo-mediterranée.com

An interview with Pietro D’Alì

Pietro D’Alì, the only Italian sailor to have taken part in an America’s Cup final (with the PradaTeam on board the 2000 Louis Vitton Cup winner “Luna Rossa”), participated in the 2000 SydneyOlympic Games (Star Class), in the 1993/94 Whitbread Around the World Race (on board “Brooksfield”) and in the 1997 Admiral’s Cup on “Brava Q8, adding one more important victory to his already incredible curriculum. Together with Kito De Pavant he won the Transat Ag2r from Concarneau to Saint Barthélemy in the French Antilles..

For a little over a year now, Pietro D’Alì has been training on the one design 10.1m Bénéteau Figaro 2 “Nanni Diesel”, of which the success, not just competitive but also commercial, is extremely widespread in France and has become well-known in Italy.  On “Nanni Diesel” the Milanese skipper, who has adopted Genoa as is home, had already made himself known during last season making his debut in the Figaro class, racing in regattas and in single handed events. He won one leg of the famous “Solitaire Le Figaro” finishing, at the end of the four events, first amongst the beginners and eighth in the general results. 

Having just returned to Italy, this is what Pietro D’Alì told us:

What does one feel having achieved such an important victory in an Atlantic crossing?

Without doubt the arrival is exciting, considering also that there were a large number of boats around us and, after so many days at sea, to arrive, as the winner, is most definitely very moving. The excitement is tremendous. Even though it was very early in the morning, the quay was crammed with people waiting. The moment was slightly sad for those who came in second as there was no one around for them; ten minutes later though, they also began to celebrate, although the spectator boats remained close around us.

Was the battle quite a challenge for you against  Dominc Vittet and Lionel Lemonchois on “ATAO Audio System” who came in second?

It was, but more towards the end when they came up close behind us, as during the last three days the wind dropped consistently. Therefore the fleet was briefly re-formed. However, the most hard-fought battle was against “Brit Air” (Armel Le Cléac’h and Nicolas Troussel), who had chosen a course more to the south but did not succeed in crossing in front of us, and three or four days before arrival we were aware of the fact that should the wind change to south-east, ours was the better position to be in. We took the line 200 miles from arrival, already with a forecast of the wind dropping. The forecast was correct, although initially the wind increased rather a lot, reaching 30 knots aft of the beam. We then gybed right on the lay line and found ourselves on the same course as the second boat, who had in actual fact gybed earlier and was windward behind us.  We were in a better position. When the wind dropped we then gained miles. It was, however, a difficult moment also considering that before we gybed there were no other new positions (for about 10 to 12 hours) and we therefore knew that “ATAO Audio System” had probably gybed earlier in order to attack. Considering the forecast we did not want to leave our leeward open putting ourselves then in a position of perhaps having to gybe once again and make our way to the lay line with no wind, losing many miles.

Do you get along well with Kito de Pavant?

Yes. He is an excellent sailor. We both feel a strong reciprocal trust towards each other, therefore no problems arose.

He has said that he took you along with him also because, had you been on another boat, you would have won with someone else !

Personally, I feel that that was a great statement. I believe that the mutual esteem we feel is due to the fact that for a long time, almost a year, we trained as opponents. We both benefited very much from those long training sessions. Although, a part from 2 days we had never sailed together, once on board we instantly felt at ease with each other. He is an excellent sailor. Very worthy.

Is the Figaro a good boat?

It is a boat that likes to go hard because it is made well. She is not fragile, you can really push her a lot in strong winds and that is what happened during the first three days. Unfortunately we damaged the storm spinnaker after just 5 hours, so we mostly used the ¾ ounce. The third spinnaker on board was the ½ ounce. This choice was a wild guess as we thought we would find less wind in the Trades and more doldrums, but it was not the case. In fact we used the ½ ounce for a couple of days and we often had to put up the ¾ ounce for the gusts. We did not gain much having this sail. To counterbalance, we only had one spinnaker (the ¾ ounce) and had we torn that one……! Yes, I had repaired the storm spinnaker, but the material was wet, we did not have much acetone to clean it properly and therefore it was a slightly unreliable refit. We had to be careful to preserve this spinnaker as it had a damaged clew – the stainless fitting – the first night that it tore and I repaired it with spectra. Particularly during the first night, when we were on more of a run, we laid off even more in the strong winds in order to save the spinnaker. We could have been further ahead at the beginning, but we purposely laid off slightly so as not to take risks with the ¾ ounce spinnaker. At the beginning it was best for us to go towards the west where there was more northerly wind, then make better use of the wind turning towards nor’east, gybing and the gybing again on the second successive increase in wind before Madera. As forecast for the last 80 miles to Madera, the wind dropped completely and it was the only part of the race during which we used the genoa. There were also rain clouds as there was a low pressure field covering a very large area. In that particular area there was no real strategy we could follow. A dark zone to cross, where one makes use of the clouds and what one finds. At a certain point, even within these doldrums, we were first, then they began to significantly gain ground on us from the east and from the west, a few boats passing us from the east and three from the west. However, within twenty minutes, 10 of us reached the buoy at Porto Santo Stefano; we rounded ninth. The first, 10 minutes ahead, and those of us behind were all in a line, very close together.

Do you prefer to race short handed or single handed?

It is nicer when there are two of us because one can push the boat harder and also rest more. Single handed, especially on the Figaro, the fact that one cannot sleep makes it very hard, also because one often sails close to the coast in zones full of ships, fishing boats and algae, and you must not allow yourself to get distracted for one single second. One must continually clear the algae from the hull and rudder which is a huge amount of work. The Figaro puts you to the test physically and therefore it is very tiring. The longer crossings, even single-handed, leave you more time to rest as one uses the autopilot more often.

Do you like this race they are going to do short handed around the world?

It will be a great race. I think we will push the boat a lot more as, with two people, one can helm much more often and it could also be that they will use some different sails and it is also possible to have hulls that are slightly different. More than anything, the autopilot works best beam reaching and broad reaching.

If you helm, you can drop off with the fuller asymmetric chutes and you can also point higher.

Now, with the Figaro, there will also be a Cannes-Istanbul with 30 boats.

What will you do now?

This weekend I will be racing on” Kauris III”, then on “Nanni Diesel”. I will do the Med solo, a race in various legs that begins on May 29^th with the weigh-in at Marseille, finishing on June 18^th. It involves long distance and coastal sections and also windward and leeward courses. After that,  I will do the Solitaire Le Figaro on “Nanni Diesel”, that this year starts at Cherbourg on August the 1^st.

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2006-04-29

GREAT VICTORY FOR PIETRO D’ALI AT THE « TRANSAT AG2R » official site of AG2R

Kito was right when he said « I’d rather have Pietro as a co-skipper than as an adversary ». Pietro D’Ali has indeed won the 8th Transat AG2R –  Atlantic crossing between Concarneau and Saint Barthélemy (Antilles)- with the frenchman Kito de Pavant. It is the very first time that a non french skipper writes his name in the book of the TRANSAT AG2R. The french-italian couple on the Bénéteau Figaro 2 « GROUPE BEL » reached the winning post this morning at 11h57, after 19 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes and 30 seconds of navigation. Groupe Bel has covered 3710 miles, reaching an average speed of 7.76 knots,  setting up the absolute record of the regatta, beating the last record of 20 days, 8 hours and 49 minutes achieved during the 2004 season by Armel Le Cléac’h and Nicolas Troussel. Le Cléac’h and Troussel had indeed lapped Groupe Bel, but the mediterranean couple didn’t give up and got first again, leaving them  5th at the finishing line. Kito de Pavant ( 45 years) and Pietro D’Ali (43), who are training together during the winter in La Grande Motte, are proud and happy for having beated an army of experienced Bretons.

This morning at dawn Groupe Bel had only a few meters  of advantage on Atao – Audio System, which arrived 18 minutes after , at 12h15.When he’ll get back from the Transat AG2R he’ll start trainging again on Nanni Diesel for the next big events:

The Solo Mediterranée -1st to 18th of June

La Solitarie Afflelou Le Figaro – 1st to 30th of August

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Pietro D’Alì on Nanni Diesel

wins the La Ciotat / Ile Verte – Ile Rousse / Corse

The italian skipper Pietro d’Ali has started the 2006 season winning the first edition of the regatta La Ciotat / Ile Verte – Ile Rousse / Corse, with his new fellow crewman Andrea Caracci. This success is even more appreciated considering the extremely bad weather conditions.

The program was indeed changed because of the strong wind (42 knots), and the boats made a really fast out and back between La Ciotat and Saint Raphaël. The start of the 19 boats, including 9 « figarists », was given on March 8th at 11 o’ clock. During the whole course the groupe remainded compact.

 When they arrived in Saint Raphaël, the Nanni Diesel Figaro was 8th, but then gained speed and reached Laurent Pellecuer’s Figaro.

After have been really close during the whole run, finally Pietro D'Ali on his Figaro Bénéteau Nanni has reached first place at La Ciotat at 8 :00 this morning in front of Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol) and Kito de Pavant (groupe Bel).

The winning Ceremony will be held tomorrow in the Marseille Métropole Boatshow.

…Next step : first the Transat AG2R Concarneau/St Barthélemy with Kito de Pavant on Groupe Bel. Then the Solo Méditerannée 2006 .

…Flash Info… Flash Info… Flash Info …Flash Info… Flash Info… Flash Info …Flash Info…

FROM THIS YEAR ON, FIGARO BENETEAU WILL INSTALL

NANNI DIESEL ENGINES

While Pietro D’Ali was achieving great results last Season in the Figaro Beneteau

Circuit (Generali Solo, Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro) on “Nanni Diesel”, engine marinizer

Nanni Diesel signed a Contract of motorization for the Figaro Beneteau 2

monotype with “Classe Figaro Bénéteau” and the Bénéteau Shipyards, which will

start this year.

After the last tests, carried out in December 2005, they have chosen Nanni Diesel, 3.75

HE Kubota based.

This engine is part of Nanni Diesel’s sail range. It develops 21 HP, with 3 cylinders in line

and a maximum speed of 3600 tour/min.

…Its propulsion was specially built for the Figaro Bénéteau 2 monotype, and is perfectly

adapted to the specifications of the Figaro Bénéteau Class for as far as concernes

- weight,

- gravity center,

- fuel comsomption

- and the adaption of the additional alternator.

NANNI DIESEL SETTING SAIL FOR THE 2006 OFFSHORE SEASON

A few lines as an avant-premiere…

After a victory and emotion-packed 2005 season, the Nanni Diesel Team is gearing up again for the 2006 offshore racing program.

2005’s biggest revelation, Piétro D’Ali, will be back at the helm of the Figaro Bénéteau Nanni for the second year running, supported by his “Mediterranean” team: Mauro Piani, the team’s sports manager and the Spanish technical assistant José Ruiz.

Provisional 2006 program for the Figaro Nanni Sailing Team

- Training from January to April in Genoa and Grande Motte

- Solo Méditerranée from the 1st to the 18th of June

- Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro from the 1st to the 30th of August

Quick look back over Pietro D’Ali’s first involvement in the 2005 Figaro Bénéteau race

Just a few weeks after winning the Massilia Cup and coming fourth in the Roma Per Due, fresh out of the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, this 42-year-old skipper marked his arrival on the 2005 circuit in remarkable style:

• In the Generali Solo, he won the Gruissan stage, sailed into the top ten (7th place) and was crowned best newcomer. This was the first time ever that an Italian had won a stage on the Mediterranean circuit.

• In the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro, he won the second Bilbao / La Rochelle stage, was ranked best newcomer for all stages and naturally first overall, and finished in the Top 10 (8th place).

Pietro D’Ali, taking part for the first time, took the Figaro world by surprise…

- “Look at the Italian Pietro D'Ali: just six months ago he had never even seen a Figaro Bénéteau, and now he’s the one teaching us how to go quicker. It’s not possible, in my opinion he must have had a quick go on the Nanni Diesel engine!” - Michel Desjoyeaux

- “He goes so fast… he’s Pietro Ferrari” - Gérald Véniard

- “Pietro? To get him to stop sailing, you’d need to empty all the oceans…” - Kito de Pavant

News release the 29th of august 2005

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The Nanni Diesel's skipper: the outsider of the race

Pietro d'Ali becomes a legend in the Solitaire

The Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro just ended yesterday, on Sunday, at Port-Bourgenay by the last parade , the traditional closing regatta in a crew. Nanni Diesel ended with a nice 4th place behind Charles Caudrelier's Bostik, the Sébastien Audigane's d'Aucy and the Lionel Péan's L'esprit d'équipe. For the Prize Living, Pietro d'Ali-winner of the leg at La Rochelle, first bizuth and 8th in the overall-was congratulated with a burst of applause. He is the outsider of the race.

Jérémie Beyou is a fantastic winner, and  yesterday evening a strong emotion could be felt during the Prize Living at Port-Bourgenay, when the Delta Dore's skipper made a standing-ovation by raising his Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro's trophy above head, a victory he had been aiming for nine years now. Michel Desjoyaux (Géant 2e) and kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel, 3e) gave him a remarkable ovation in this ideal podium which has left mark in the minds of people fond of single handed races.

Just before, the crowd had made a really deserved storm of applause for the outsider of the race: Italian Pietro d'Ali. First bizuth, eighth in the overall rankings and amazing winner of the second leg in La Rochelle, the Nanni Diesel's skipper can't stop the wave of admiration he has created from other racers, partners and journalists. Pietro, in heaven, warmly thanked everybody:" Amalia Festa, the Nanni Diesel's chairman, the other sailors, the sailing team and its sports manager Mauro Piani and José the technical assistant, the Race Committee". Mauro Piani took the opportunity in private to " give  a tribute to Benoît Lequin,the Nanni skipper of last year with who we've learnt a lot before winning with Pietro, I don't forget benoît", nicely said the Nanni Diesel sports manager.

A first time for an Italian

The projection of the leg's video on a large screen has exposed some funny and revealing anecdote from the high seas: and especially during that time when Pietro d'Ali was building up his great win, sailing up across the Bay of Biscay from Bilbao. One can see and listen to Michel Desjoyaux saying: " look at Italian Pietro d'Ali: six months ago he had never seen a Figaro and he's showing us how to go fast. It's unbelievable,  Nanni Diesel must have started the engine". Burst in laughter in the audience...

Kito de Pavant also pays a tribute too and ask the crowd to applause Pietro, his sparing partner in La Grande Motte. Clapping, shaking hands, Mauro and José show a big smile, very big smile...Earlier in the afternoon, for once on board of the boat, they reached the fourth place for the closing regatta which finally permits the sailors to bring a crew, out of competition in order to thank the massive crowd who came to celebrate the heroes like for a Vendée Globe. The celebration was beautiful, and is finished for this year. Glasses of champagne are still clinking, promises to be back are made...perhaps to get higher again. But on the side of the Nanni Diesel's team, evryone knows they have made the hit,that for the first time an Italian has left his name in the memory of the most prestigious one-design single handed race. This August 2005, Pietro d'Ali and Nanni Diesel have fully become a legend of the offshore racing.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

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News release the 26th of august 2005

The Nanni Diesel's skipper ends 8th and 1st bizuth in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro

Pietro d'Ali: "the feeling to have achieved a good job"

Pietro d'Ali, the Nanni Diesel's Italian skipper has been an outstanding figure in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro that drew to an end yesterday at Port-bourgenay with the win of Jérémie Beyou. Eighth of the overall, first bizuth with more than 5 hours ahead of the 2nd and 6 hours of the third, Pietro brings up this ultimate leg ,run in harsh conditions, also on the whole event he has discovered. Interview.

Pietro, this last leg has been very hard, wasn’t ?
Very hard. I haven't sailed very well but I 've first guaranteed the safety, for the boat and for myself. At one time I've heard a warning for 55 knots wind when I already had 40...Then I've set up the storm jib, the tiny foresail designed for the storm, and I think I've wasted time. Then, I was much focused on speed and I've made a too long tack, veering a little bit too late yesterday morning. Little mistakes like these make you lose places and time...

Were the wind and sea conditions that terrific ?
I had been told the Solitaire was run in very light wind...It's not the case this year though (He bursts in laughter)! Too bad for me cause I reckon I am better in medium weather conditions rather than in rough weather. At Ouessant, the waves were really huge, and wind facing the current made a raging sea. I've fallen twice in the cockpit that I've crossed over, caught by a breaker. Fortunately I was permanently clipped...and I've always kept in mind life is upon the race!

First bizuth, leg winner, first foreigner, 8th in the overall...the results are very positive...
I have a feeling of an achieved mission; it's true that I became more relaxed after my win at La Rochelle, where I also took the pole position in the overall rankings. However I admit that the more you get the more you want and that’s why I've thought for a while I could end 4th in the last leg and thus remain on the podium in the overall rankings. But I've really enjoyed very much to challenge  these top level sailors. Also I have to say I immensely appreciate to talk with the other skippers, nice guys as Kito de Pavant, Michel Desjoyaux who is a star, Gildas Moravn and many others. I like the solitaire for that aspect too, there's a very good atmosphere between us, inland also.

Pietro, is there any chance to see you back in the solitaire Afflelou le Figaro next year?
The whole Nanni Diesel team managed by Mauro Piani and José, the technical assistant, has achieved a very good job on the boat, perfect really. Now it's my turn to practice again, to work on a few details I've identified, points of sail where I'm performing less, and then I'll try to correct that all, and yes for sure, I'll be back !

Jury decisions: no penalty for Pietro d' Ali

 At the start in Crosshaven, an incident occurred: The Gerald Veniard's Scutum, the Michel Desjoyaux's Géant and the Pietro d'Ali's Nanni diesel have bumped into each others at the upwind mark, at the end of the very first tack. Gerald Veniard on a starboard tack (so with the right of way, however although with the right of way, the skipper must avoid a collision at all cost) made a legal protest against both Michel Desjoyaux and Pietro d'Ali. Michel Desjoyaux on his side, made a protest against Pietro d'Ali. Straight away Pietro d'Ali decided to move away from the fleet and to accomplish a "720" (two circlings) to repair his supposed fault. Michel Desjoyaux took a risk then esteeming he was in his right and followed on his course without carrying out this manoeuvre that Pietro did. In doubt, he accomplished the manoeuvre in a preventive way, accepting to lose a bit of ground rather than taking the risk to be sanctioned later on. The international jury who had a video clip about the incident stated this morning. Its decision: no penalty. To sum up without getting into the details, jury estimated that Scutum hasn't made a mistake when géant did but this mistake had been cancelled anyway because generated by Nanni Diesel and finally Pietro d'Ali had perfectly repaired by achieving a 720 respecting the rules "as a good racer and gentleman".

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

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Info Flash Thursday the 25th of August 2005

Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro: Nanni Diesel ends 8th and 1st bizuth

Addition of titles for Pietro d'Ali

Winner of La Rochelle's leg. First Bizuth. Eighth in the overall rankings. First foreigner. Pietro d'Ali, the Nanni Diesel's skipper arrived in 16th position of the last leg in Port -Bourgenay is collecting the titles. Let's check the details.

Pietro d'Ali has crossed this Thursday evening the finishing line of the fourth and last leg between Cork and Port-Bourgenay (Vendée-France) and of his first Solitaire Afflelou Le figaro. He ends 16th in this leg, 3h 03’ behind the great winner, Jérémie bBeyou (Delta Dore) who has preceded Michel Desjoyaux (Géant) on the line, both taking,in the same occasion, the two first places of the leg and of the overall rankings. kito de Pavant (groupe Bel) completes the podium. On the pontoons, Michel Desjoyaux, had this nice and friendly saying chatting with Yann Elies: "one day we'll have to take a
speed course together in Italy", he said smiling, tribute to the Nanni Diesel’s skipper.

Though Pietro d'Ali has not succeed to remain on the podium of the overall rankings at the end of a leg dominated by rough conditions (up to 40 knots gusts and 4 meters waves passing by Ouessant), he has achieved three exceptional racing weeks. First of all, his 16th place enables himself to be maintained in the very envied top ten of the prestigious solo race: he ends 8th of the overall rankings 3h05 behind Jérémie Beyou, positioned between Fred Duthil (Brossard) and Erwan Tabarly (Thales). Also he is ahead of 2004 winner, Charles Caudrelier (Bostik).

Everybody keeps in mind his superb victory at La Rochelle which offered him the pole position in the overall rankings. And this evening at the end of the fourth leg the Nanni Diesel skipper is first of the bizuths rankings (before jury) and also 1st foreign sailor. In brief: he definitely let a print in that race and has borne high the Nanni Diesel’s colours during the
hardest and most prestigious solo race.

Pietro will answer our questions tomorrow on Friday with an interview about his first participation in La Solitaire.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

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News release the 23th of august 2005

Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro: Nanni Diesel is off for the last leg.

Pietro d'Ali: " everything is possible..."

Because of innocuous broken seals on the boat's beacon, a 2 minutes 30 seconds penalty has been stated for Pietro d'Ali , he is now third of the overall rankings in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. The spirits of the Nanni Diesel's skipper are not affected though. Winner of the leg at La rochelle, bizuths’ leader with a nice advance, the Italian skipper has gone off Cork this Tuesday at 11am. Rushing for a last leg where everything is possible , in strong winds and rough seas.

"I've already turned out well my race by winning in La Rochelle, by remaining in the three first of the overall rankings and leading the bizuths. Now, still remains this last leg to Port Bourgenay where everything is possible. I can hit the overall rankings or end ten. That is sailing..." Very lucid, Pietro d'Ali has set off this morning, with the 42 others Figaro Bénéteau still in race, for the fourth and last leg of this Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, which means a 428 miles between Cork (Ireland) and Port Bourgenay (France).

After being grieved with a penalty of 2 minutes and 30 seconds for broken seals (which has been attributed to 13 other boats too), Pietro d'Ali has lowered rank behind Jérémie Beyou's Delta Dore in the overall. Before this decisive last leg, he is now 12 minutes and 9 seconds behind the Cliptol sport of leader Laurent Pellecuer and 1 minute and 37 seconds behind Jérémie Beyou. "It doesn't matter, even if a better solution should be found for these too easily breaking seals when conditions become severe ", explains the Nanni Diesel's team manager, Mauro Piani, " though I wish we wouldn't loose a place in the final rankings because of that".

Direct course to France

Because of the stormy conditions already being felt at the Fasnet, the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro Race-Commitee has decided to take the famous lighthouse out of the official course. "A good decision", smiles Pietro d'Ali, "When I was young , I was a bit mad...I  always asked my sailing instructor to go out in stronger winds than 40 knots, I wanted to get into the storm, I loved that. But now, fortunately I've changed my mind: safety first because I'm not alone anymore, I have children...".

Strong winds are expected though, and the fleet will probably have to deal with around 30 knots South Westerly wind tonight already with 40 knots or more gusts, rough seas and  maybe more than three meters swell. " We’ll have to keep an eye, not to let it go, but I'm ok with this, I'm used to it", explains the one who has the best chance to win the bizuths’ rankings (more than 3 hours and 30 minutes ahead of second Yannick Bestaven), or even to stay on the podium...or even better?

“Everything is possible", kept saying Pietro d'Ali before getting the start. Otherwise, this morning, Nanni Diesel was rounding the first coastal course buoy in fourth position ...but alas ! Pietro faced a litigious engagement with Michel Desjoyaux (Géant) and Gérald Véniard (Scutum) who claimed the jury against Nanni Diesel. Pietro d'Ali had to accomplish then a ‘720°’ (two circlings )to rectify quickly which made him loose a bit of advance. Apparently nothing serious even if he was ranked 21st at the 4pm ranking only 2.1 miles behind leader Gildas Morvan. At that time the fleet was braving a 25 knots South Westerly wind and conditions were already tough in the very beginning of that leg. Boats speeds were over 9 knots. The coming night is going to be difficult ... but the leg will be very fast then, the arrival is expected from 48 hours , on Thursday and if the sea is too rough at the entry of Port Bourgenay, the finishing could be moved to Yeu island. Can we bet Nanni Diesel’s rank ? "first or ten" as Pietro d'Ali said .Suspense is just setting up in Celtic sea.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali 8e and first bizuth
Overall leader: Gildas Morvan
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)

1-Pietro d’Ali ; 2- Frédéric Duthil ; 3 – Armel le Cléac’h
Overall leader: Pietro d'Ali
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)

Pietro d'Ali 9 and first bizuth

Overall leader: Laurent Pellecuer
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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News release the 21th of august 2005

Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro: Nanni Diesel 9th in the La Rochelle-Cork leg

Pietro d'Ali still in the match for the final victory

Pietro d'Ali has achieved a remarkable performance in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. Permanently in touch with the leaders, he ends 9th in the third leg at Cork, only 42 minutes and 52 seconds behind the winner Laurent Pellecuer. The Nanni Diesel's sailor accentuate again the gap in the bizuth's rankings and is not worried about conceding to Pellecuer his first place in the overall. The game will be played in the last leg !

"I'm very , very happy to keep the pace , to be keeping in touch with the best all along this long leg which has been both beautiful and extremely difficult." Pietro d'Ali had a big smile this Sunday morning at Crosshaven, the charming little marina of cork (Ireland). At the end of three very hard days and four nights racing, mostly sailing upwind in a choppy sea ("after Ouessant, the boat was slamming very hard in the waves, the noise was very impressing") the Nanni Diesel's skipper has crossed the finishing line in position 9, three minutes behind the Michel Desjoyaux's Giant and 42 minutes 52 seconds behind today's winner, Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol Sport). Yann Elies and Kito de Pavant respectively take the 2nd and the 3rd place of that leg. Very constant, like for the two former legs , Pietro d'Ali has also finished leader of the bizuths (second rookie being Yannick Bestaven , arrived 23rd), the Nanni Diesel's skipper can quiet seriously pretend now to win this challe!nge too in Port Bourgenay.

2nd in the overall

In the overall (NB this ranking is supposed to be modified by the claims being judged), Pietro d'Ali is now second of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, 9 minutes and 39 seconds behind Laurent Pellecuer and one minute ahead of Jérémie Beyou third position. " It's not a big deal to let the leadership to Laurent Pellecuer", smiles Pietro, "even maybe it's better not being the leader anymore. Thus, I have less pressure to bear on my shoulders for the last leg where the game is going to be played and i prefer this situation more : to run  for  the victory rather than racing to defend the first place".

After 88 hours racing in rough seas, the overall rankings are disrupted  then and the regularity of the Nanni Diesel's skipper is definitely more remarkable  when such names of the offshore sailing races as Armel Le Cleach',Eric Drouglazet or Gildas Morvan have lost the most during that leg. But the rankings have shrunk in the leading group : this evening before the judges statement, Pietro d'Ali is still on a provisional podium where the three leaders are gathered within ten minutes ! And eight boats ( Duthil, Tabarly, de Pavant, Caudrelier, Desjoyaux , Attanasio, Elies, Morvan ) have less than one hour late behind the leader...

The suspense is going to be awesome, and the tired bodies of the sailor will have to give everything trying to win the mythical Solitaire at the end of the last and fourth leg heading to Port Bourgenay, the longest of this 2005 edition (496 miles). Though they will have short time to recover, the start being forecasted as soon as 11am on Tuesday. Concerning that fact, the Nanni Diesel's skipper  had satisfaction for having been able to sleep better during that long leg towards Ireland: " I haven't slept at all during the first night, but still a bit more afterwards, even in rough seas, in a ten minutes brackets.", he explains. After proving his ability in a crew (America's cup, Volvo Ocean Race...), would the Nanni Diesel's skipper be turning into a great solo racer ? It's already done and whatever happens , his victory at La Rochelle will stay anyway in the solo offshore racing records. One leg has to be run to keep shining...and why not to win ? Pietro will try. For sure.

Last minute: eventually  penalty for three boats including Nanni Diesel

The result of the leg and the overall one could eventually be modified for Nanni diesel, groupe Generali assurances (Yann Elies) and Géant (Michel Desjoyaux) because of broken seals -that shouldn't be touched during the race -on this three boats, probably because of the severe weather conditions as often. Usually the committee applies a few minutes minimum penalties. If it is the case, those would probably change the rankings but not that much: in any case the match will be played during the last leg.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali 8e and first bizuth
Overall leader: Gildas Morvan
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)

1-Pietro d’Ali ; 2- Frédéric Duthil ; 3 – Armel le Cléac’h
Overall leader: Pietro d'Ali
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)

Pietro d'Ali 9 and first bizuth

Overall leader: Laurent Pellecuer
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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Info Flash Friday the 19th of August 2005

Pietro d'Ali (Nanni Diesel) still in the leading group at Ouessant

Leader of the overall results in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro since his splendid win in the Bilbao-La Rochelle leg, Pietro d'Ali, the Italian skipper of the Nanni Diesel Figaro Bénéteau is well playing the match still, at the end of the first 48 hours of the third leg (La Rochelle-Cork). At the latitude of Ouessant island, Friday afternoon, Pietro d'Ali was ranked seven,  2.6 miles behind the actual leader Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore).

Nanni Diesel was sailing then in very good company, very close to the Michel Desjoyaux's Géant and Charles Caudrelier's Bostik, winner of the Solitaire in 2004.He was 0.3 miles in advance of Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert), his most threatening rival in the overall and 2.6 miles ahead of Frédéric Duthil (Brossard).

When 240 miles was to be run upwind to reach the Crosshaven-Cork harbour, the twelve first were almost tied still. Pietro d'ali is assuming perfectly his leading role, in a Northwesterly around 20 knots with a rough sea and a swell about two meters.Tough conditions with upwind sailing has been run since La Rochelle. And it is going to last until the fleet meets an anticyclonic ridge that force them to head North, towards England, before being able to finally take the Ireland course. Will Pietro d'Ali be still among the first in the overall during the Saturday to Sunday night when the first boat probably arrive ? No one knows, but the Nanni Diesel's sailor has well, very well started to succeed...

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News release the 18th of august 2005

Third leg of the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro between La Rochelle and Cork

Leading the field, Pietro d’Ali set sail calm and motivated

Ranked first overall – and naturally first newcomer – the Nanni Diesel skipper is the major revelation of the first half of the Solitaire. At 5:17 pm on Wednesday, Pietro d’Ali nevertheless set out without any particular pressure to win the 456-nautical mile third leg between La Rochelle and Cork.

“I am going to race my race in exactly the same way as if I was not in the lead. It's as simple as that. In fact, I've already forgotten that I’m in front”. Pietro D’Ali, the Nanni Diesel skipper is really looking on the bright side of things. After long hours of refreshing sleep, the Italian skipper is armed with a broad smile, seemingly unaware of the pressure surrounding him now. Indeed, he is in a better position than anyone to know that the 2 minutes and 36 seconds separating him from second placed Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) are nothing. What are 156 seconds worth when you have 456 nautical miles to sail between La Rochelle and Cork? Just one tack, one minor adjustment…

This long third leg began at 5:17 pm on Wednesday, and it looks far from plain sailing, with three or even four weather systems to be negotiated and from the outset a night sailing session, following the coast up to Chaussée de Sein and Ouessant.

“Sailing is my dream”

Neither the many trophies received in La Rochelle (where Pietro even ventured a few words of thanks in French), nor the tributes paid by other competitors (“Pietro in his boat is like a fighter plane”, according to Michel Desjoyeaux), nor the media spotlight seem to bother the Nanni Diesel skipper who, whatever happens from now on in, has already pulled off a major coup by winning a stage in the Solitaire while coming in ahead of the pack in the general rankings. A first ever for an Italian, who will go down in sailing history. And yet, “I don’t see myself as the favorite in any way”, explains Pietro d’Ali, “I’m simply going to give it my best shot and fly high the colors of Nanni Diesel, which has given me such a superb opportunity to take part in this great race”.

Moreover, the competition is not the be-all and end-all when you have nearly 850 kilometers of high seas to cover sailing solo, on equal terms, using the same 10-metre boats, before landing in Ireland, at the charming port of Crosshaven, which the 45-strong Figaro Bénéteau fleet should reach by Saturday night or Sunday morning, no doubt sailing through strong tidal currents on the way.

Pietro d’Ali will of course be watched very closely by all of his opponents, even if this is almost impossible on such a long race. “I feel both motivated and very calm”, explains the Nanni Diesel skipper smiling, “Since I was very young, my dream has been to be out at sea, sailing. Not necessarily in a competition, just sailing…”. Once again on this leg of the Solitaire, Pietro D’Ali will be able to live his dream to the full, sailing further and further, in the light westerly wind expected on the line, in a highly tactical stage sailing up along the coast, then in the large waves of up to 3 meters with gusts of 35 knots forecast at sea off Ouessant, when maritime adventure and competition will come together. From light to heavy weather, various choices to be made...and 44 other highly talented skippers vying for the podium. Indeed, no less than 17 boats are within one hour of one another…For the moment, Nanni Diesel is in pole position. That is already a remarkable achievement.

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali 8e and first bizuth
Overall leader: Gildas Morvan
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)

1-Pietro d’Ali ; 2- Frédéric Duthil ; 3 – Armel le Cléac’h
Overall leader: Pietro d'Ali
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)

leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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News release the 15th of august 2005

Nanni Diesel wins the Bilbao-La Rochelle leg and take the lead in La Solitaire

Pietro d'Ali achieves the impossible !

Pietro d'Ali, 42 years old Italian skipper, entered tonight in both offshore sailing history and the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro one. At the end of an amazing finishing, the Nanni Diesel's skipper crossed the line as a winner in La Rochelle this last night at 00h 21mn 20s, with 50s in advance, ahead of Fred Duthil's Brossard. And this wonderful victory allows him to take the control in the overall results. Historical record !

Let’s go back a few minutes before the finishing line of the second leg in La Solitaire Afflelou Le figaro, at La Rochelle, this night between Sunday and Monday. ‘April moon’ is huge. Soon Pietro d'Ali is going ‘to catch’ it as the French say. But no one knows yet. Upwind sailing, in a ten knots breeze, the show is spectacular: Nanni Diesel is followed like his own shadow, two boat’s length behind, by Fred Duthil's Brossard. The two boats keep equivalent speed. Sounds like a night match-racing... They've just crossed the Bay of Biscay and are still in touch together... Who's going to win and by the same time enter the solo racing history ? Duthil bets in a tack on the left side . It's the penultimate tack. Pietro d'Ali keeps steady. He keeps on the right side. Gun shot, finish line. Boom !. It's over. Victory. Victory ! For 50 seconds, Pietro gets the better of Fred Duthil...

At 42 years old, Pietro d'Ali and his Figaro Bénéteau Nanni Diesel creates an incredible emotion at the end of the second leg in La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro between Gexto-bilbao and La Rochelle. He is the first foreigner since Damian Foxall in 1998 to win a leg in La Solitaire. A few minutes later, the scoop: Pietro d'Ali takes the lead in the overall results ! He is now ahead of the former leader Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) with 2 mn and 36 s in advance and 13'53'' ahead Fred Duthil.

"It is like a dream"

On the La Rochelle's pontoons, champagne is largely poured. For the first time in its history, an Italian wins a leg in La Solitaire race. A bizuth (NB rookie) is leading the overall results and that is very rare. Sensations. Showing incredibly tired features on his face , Pietro can fall in the arms of Mauro Piani, the Nanni Diesel's sports manager. Big smile, laughter. "I'm incredibly happy", answers Pietro to the numerous held out mikes, "it's been a wonderful race".

Wonderful is the word. All along the 368 miles of this Gexto-Bilbao/La Rochelle leg, Pietro d'Ali has been keeping the out-post, working out at best the anticyclon ridge crossing the course, in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, tacking at the right time ,always taking the good decisions. "he dared assuming his choices alone without taking care of the Michel Desjoyaux's route, something I probably wouldn't have done", comments visibly impressed Yann Elies, actual offshore France Champion and holder of the Trophée Jules Verne, "we're probably assisting to the birth of a great champion..." Dominic Vittet, winner of La Solitaire in 1993, has a nice saying too. He says: " to win a leg and take the lead for a first entry, it's wonderful. What Pietro is doing, is like a dream" Pietro has to draw in his own reserves to answer the journalists. "I haven't slept at all, maybe 10mn, I don't remember (NB : over 60 hours and 21 minutes of race) but it's a very strong emotion to win here. The race was beautiful and incredibly difficult, the finishing in touch with Fred was extraordinary."

When he is asked to make a comparison with the America's cup (he has made two campaigns in the Team Prada), Pietro smiles again: "it is two different things but La Solitaire is much harder than the America's cup ! You have to keep control with 40 boats in touch and above all go beyond your own limits. You have to constantly surpass yourself and it's not like in a crew, here you are in charge of everything onboard. You have to assume your own choices, and to keep your self-control." Pietro d'Ali has not  feared. He signs here a resounding success. Everyone is exploring his prize list, his stories , his sailor's career. Does he really intends to win the race? Pietro keeps realistic: " the race is long still, there's two big stop-overs. For now I only have two ambitions: to end La Solitaire and to sleep, sleep, sleep !" And when he is rested , for sure, Pietro will look forward to sailing, to go fast on the surface of the sea and respect the phrase of his sparing-partner Kito de Pavant (winner in 2002) who says about him : "to prevent Pietro from sailing, one has to empty the whole water in the sea". Then, naturally in two days heading to Ireland, Pietro will try again "to sail properly, and raise high the colours of Nanni diesel which offers him this great opportunity". Still joking for five minutes, the other skippers are really impressed. "He is so fast...he is Pietro Ferrari !" jokes Gerald Veniard, Scutum's sailor .Laughter . Life is nice tonight in La Rochelle.

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali 8e and first bizuth
Overall leader: Gildas Morvan
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)

1-Pietro d’Ali ; 2- Frédéric Duthil ; 3 – Armel le Cléac’h
Overall leader: Pietro d'Ali
Bizuth leader: Pietro d'Ali

leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)
leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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News release the 12th of august 2005

Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro: start of the 2nd leg : Gexto-Bilbao

Pietro d'Ali brings Nanni Diesel among the first ten

Placed 8th and first bizuth after four hours racing, Pietro d'Ali shows once again his regatta's knowledge in the very first miles of this second leg in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. The start was given at noon this Friday and the fleet is now led by Erwan Tabarly (thales). 368 miles distant long , this crossing of the Bay of Biscay between Gexto-bilbao and La Rochelle should be run upwind, in relatively light North winds. Arrival on Sunday or Monday.

Pietro d'Ali is ranked 8th at 4pm this Friday, after four hours racing, just behind a certain Michel Desjoyaux. At this time, Nanni Diesel is sailing ahead of a real giant, ahead of the most titled sailor in the world, grand slam’s winner of the Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, O.star...the picture is pleasant. After a respectable start around the 20th , the Nanni Diesel's skipper has achieved a good recovery in the first hours of this second leg of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro heading up to la Rochelle. Whereas Erwan Tabarly (Thales) is leading the fleet of the 45 solo skippers, Pietro proves again it won't be without considering his great talent. In the French papers (Le Figaro), in the Spanish Tv, on the offshore racing websites, the Italian skipper is getting renowned...His adversaries respect him and fear him in the main challenge and not only in the bizuth's rank...

A crucial choice to make

Who can tell if the media infatuation will still be going on, in La Rochelle where the arrival is estimated on Sunday or Monday ?  It is of course a bit early to bet. For now , there's still about sixty hours of a friendly battle
ship to struggle with, sailing upwind the Bay of Biscay towards Belle-Ile to veer the Birvideaux lighthouse before going down to La Rochelle. All of that  in a North , Northeasterly around ten knots. An anticyclone ridge is pointing there right in the middle of the Bay of Biscay and if it creates wind on the edges, there is absolutely none in the centre. So ? "Then at first sight, there will be two tack to accomplish in a very calm weather", explains Pietro d'Ali, " all is about when it will be the right time to tack. Is it better to give more preference to the speed rather than the accomplished distance ? or the contrary, so to say accepting to go less fast but shortening by the same way the length of the course ?" For the Nanni Diesel's skipper, the key of the leg-a big part of it- is played in this questioning, "because once touching the Birvideaux, there will be probably a backing to the Northwest, and the first arriving in Belle-Ile will also be the first to get fresh, stronger and reaching wind. The game could already be played over there."

This is for the stream line of the strategy. Motivation is there and well in place. " I am more relaxed than before Perros-Guirec. I'm confident even if I know this leg may create important gaps because there will be some tricky parts, no one should take slow because the sanction would be serious. Concerning the sports challenge , this leg is relatively hazardous.." Mauro Piani, Nanni Diesel's team sports manager is confident too. When he is asked how is the team going , he has a big smile and rises his thumb towards the sky. "Everything is all right, Pietro is going very well." So we can largely confirm.

At the last check at 4pm , the fleet was still packed-there's only a 1.5 mile gap between the first and the last boat- and Pietro is very well positioned: Nanni Diesel sailing speed is around 5.6 knots, eighth placed, less than half a mile behind Erwan Tabarly. He is also leading the bizuths, second of them being Thierry Fournier Foch (Cortal consorts) who is marked 16th in the fleet.

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali 8e and first bizuth

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)
leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)
leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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News release the 9th of august 2005

Wonderful first leg for Nanni Diesel in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

Pietro d'Ali is 8th and first bizuth at Bilbao

8 th placed and first bizuth at Bilbao ! Pietro d'ali has just ended a wonderful first leg in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, between Perros-Guirec and Gexto-Bilbao. He is now confirming all we could expect from him with a former splendid generali Solo,the Nanni Diesel's skipper has cut the line only 11 minutes and 27 seconds behind Gildas Morvan the great winner. He ends up almost equally with Michel Desjoyaux, the most titled solitary sailor in the world...

Pietro d'Ali has a big smile, this Tuesday afternoon, on Gexto-Bilbao docks : he has set up very high the colours of Nanni Diesel. He is ranked 8 and far in advance: first bizuth ! Nanni Diesel cut the line at 11am, 1 minute, 1 second so with only 11 minutes and 27 seconds after the great winner of that leg, Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert;), whereas Jérémie Beyou ended 2nd and Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol Sport)reached the third step on the podium. Eighth placed and first bizuth...when everyone knows how extremely difficult it is to reach the top ten in the Solitaire afflelou Le Figaro, the italian skipper's first words get more weight then: "I'm happy ! really, very happy!" exclaims Pietro d'Ali, "I've had very good sensations, conditions were rough but manageable. For a first leg in the Solitaire i could even not dream of a better start !"

Always in the out-post

All along the 390 nautical miles of that first leg between Perros-Guirec and Gexto-Bilbao, Nanni Diesel kept the out-post, moving between the 5th and the 15th position, a course crossed by strong Easterlies more than 20 knots and more than two meters swell on the beam. But a skipper who has run the Volvo Ocean Race, round the world crew race, needs more to be impressed. "It was 'fun' the boat was extremely well prepared, I had no trouble at all. My speed was good, the sails were ok and i've seen dolphins in tens...so to say everything was all right!" smiles Pietro, despite the tiredness accumulated during these two days and two nights without sleeping.
"I've almost not slept at all", tells the italian skipper, "one had to be as often as possible helming and adjusting the sails to go fast and i still don't have all the little subtleties to use the autopilot at its best".

If the gaps are relatively small (the five first, including Kito de pavant and yann Elies, arrived in a five minutes gap) and if everyone keeps all his chances before the three others legs to come, Pietro d'ali has already impressed other competitors mind, and not only for the bizuth which means those who enter in the Solitaire race for the first time. Making almost as good as Michel Desjoyaux and better than great favourites as Eric Drouglazet (15e), Armel Le Cléac'h (16e), Charles Caudrelier (17e) or even Erwan Tabarly (19th), the Nanni Diesel's skipper is rising himself up to the level of the very best in that Figaro Bénéteau class. Then, is the bizuth rank a goal ? "I don't really think about it" smiles Pietro, "If i can win it, i'll do it of course , but i'm more into the overall rank. And after the Generali solo (7th , first bizuth), this first experience in the Solitaire is really good for confidence". He won't say it that time but it is noticeable in his smile: Pietro is really looking forward to be cutting the starting-line  again on Friday with his boat Nanni Diesel. The second one towards La Rochelle. For now , he leaves us for a rest in a Gexto hotel but yet the Spanish television is following him for an interview...

Results, ranks, interviews , photos in the official website www.lasolitaire.com

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday 9th of august (390 nautical miles)

1-Gildas Morvan ; 2-Jérémie Beyou ; 3-Laurent Pellecuer. …Pietro d’Ali: 8 th placed and first bizuth

leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)
leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)
leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles

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News release the 8th of august 2005

Nanni Diesel has sprung among the 5 first of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro

Excellent start for Pietro d'Ali !

Ranked five after two hours racing! On Nanni, Pietro d'Ali has taken an excellent start in the first leg of the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro which has just sprung on Sunday at 11am from Perros-Guirec. Destination: Geixto-Bilbao, in the Spanish Basque Country where the leaders are awaited as soon as Tuesday. By then, 390 miles of competition and adventure will be intensively accomplished.

Off we go, here we go! At 11am, this Sunday, Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, the french television celebrity, has given the start of the 36th Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro edition while at the same time, the ‘Patrouille de France’ acrobatic planes were dropping the famous tricolour smoke. The sky  cleared up on the Northern Brittany coast when the 46 alone sailors were offering a great show under the sun, with a Northeasterly about 10 knots, trying to take the best out of the very strong currents along the rose granite coast.

Pietro d'Ali, has taken a tremendous start on his Nanni Figaro Bénéteau: 7th at the first buoy and fifth after two hours racing..."the start shouldn't be missed, one has to be the most ahead because the Gulf of Biscay will probably be a race based on speed ,straight on, and the weather conditions will always give advantage to the leaders",had warned the Italian skipper. At least, one can notice he has respected his strategy in the first tacks of this 390 miles leg towards Bilbao. Even if two impressive guys such as Michel Desjoyaux and Kito de Pavant are leading ahead, Nanni is better positioned at this step of the race than various favourites. Pietro d'Ali has done better until now than such champion of the Figaro class as Charles Caudrelier, Jérémie Beyou, Yann Elies, Armel le Cléac'h or even Erwan Tabarly. Auspicious beginning before sailing along the gorgeous coast of northern Brittany towards Ouessant and before they enter in the crossing of the Gulf of Biscay this night.

With the best
"In the Gulf, we will probably touch a freshening Easterly, up to 25 maybe 30 knots, it's going to  be fast, with very few options to attempt, a race for tough sailors", had warned Pietro d'Ali," I'm really impatient to get into it and to estimate my level in comparison with the best".

Since 11am this morning, the Nanni skipper can already feel reassured on that point: he can stand up to the very best and eventually confirm his excellent former results in that class, like during the Generali Solo for instance where he has won a leg and ended first bizuth (rookie) and 7th in the overall results. By the way, Pietro is sill leading this rank which awards those who enter for the first time in the Solitaire, second "bizuth" is Etienne Svilarich, ranked twelve this afternoon. Thus the first sensations are excellent and confirm what could be predicted during the prologue last Friday. Nanni had been penalized though, like ten other adversaries for having penetrate the starting line a few seconds in advance, but without penalty, Pietro d'Ali could have had finished 4th, just behind three great favourites : Morvan, Elies and Beyou. "Yes, it was reassuring to sail just behind those three, I was leading the followers, just beside Armel Tripon's Gedimat. My boat is very well prepared by the Nanni's team and its sheer speed is absolutely satisfying", explained Nanni's skipper this morning, a few minutes before going at sea for a first adventure in this Solitaire , an edition that shows very exciting.The arrival in Bilbao is awaited on Tuesday, unless the wind dies just before the finishing line, if a little thunderous low reaches the fleet, "but I'm counting on arriving before it", smiles Pietro. By then, there's still two days and two nights offshore and great sensations to deal with...hoping to stay in the leading peloton of this mythical race. This Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro often and fairly considered as the world championship of that kind of sailors who enjoy being alone at sea.

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday
9th of august (390 nautical miles)
leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)
leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)
leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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News release thursday the 4th of August 2005

Nanni Diesel embarks on the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro

Pietro d'Ali "impatient and motivated"

For the second consecutive year, the Nanni Figaro will take the start in the mythical Solitaire. Glorified with a great Generali solo race, Pietro d'Ali will attempt to confirm his talent. During the navigation between Arcachon and Perros-Guirec he has just achieved a very close reconnaissance. The italian skipper says he is very impatient and motivated. The prologue will be run on Friday whereas the first leg towards Bilbao will start on Sunday.
" The boat is definitely ready, we've been in the place since last week-end, we have new performing sails and Pietro is very motivated !" Mauro Piani the Nanni Diesel’s team sports manager can be satisfied : Sunday  5th  August, the italian skipper Pietro d'Ali will leave with  best chances to play the game during the first leg of this solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005: 390 nautical miles between the breton port of Perros-Guirec and Gexto-Bilbao, in the spanish Basque Country.

" I am really impatient and motivated , i'm already living the race ! " confirms Pietro d'Ali " It 's going to be a very nice leg, difficult with a lot of trouble with currents we’ll have to deal with at the Bretagne head point...and before that i'm really eager to run  the prologue on Friday. I know that in France they said it's a bad sign if you win it but i'm not superstitious, if I can why not trying ?".

     Exploration of the sailing area

Absolutely excellent mood for the Nanni Diesel skipper who has been achieving the whole season preparation -the Solitaire is the main event of the year-  by deliverying his own Nanni Figaro between Arcachon and Perros-Guirec with Gilles Chiorri. Last organizer of the Generali Solo, Gilles was not long ago too a talented sailor in that class  (2nd in 2002 behind Kito de Pavant). By sailing together it gave Pietro the opportunity to gather max information about the areas where Nanni Diesel will have to go across or land and where Pietro has never sailed before. "Thus we have explored the access of La Rochelle and  Port Bourgenay", explains Pietro d'Ali, " but also and above all the whole Bretagne head point: there is a lot of current here !".

With his win at Gruissan , his 6th place in the overall and his victory in the bizuths results during the last Generali Solo in June, Pietro and his Nanni are yet well renown in the Figaro Beneteau circle. Can we expect such good results ? Hard to tell ..." in sailing , one  can never say if you'll be able to win", smiles Mauro Piani, " we just want to perform a good race , and it will be interesting to race with adversaries like Michel Desjoyaux , knowing that Pietro wants to run the Vendée Globe...We'll do our best !".

Self control now...this time the legs are longer, he will have to endure three weeks of alone racing in the world's top level. What  about the Bizuths results ? " Some other first participating guys are very good too , I presume", adds Pietro d'Ali..." Of course if I can win  a leg or show off during one, I do it, but we're not there yet." Finally the only thing which is certain is that it is almost the start of three weeks of competition and adventure , let's follow then the race of Nanni and its 45 adversaries...

The course of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005

leg 1: Perros-Guirec-Gexto Bilbao (Euskadi) , from Sunday 7th till Tuesday
9th of august (390 nautical miles)
leg 2: Gexto Bilbao-La Rochelle from 12th till 14 th august (368 n.miles)
leg 3: La Rochelle-Cork (ireland) from 17th till  20th  August (456 n.miles)
leg 4: Cork- Port Bourgenay, from  23rd till 26th  august (496 n.miles)

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