The sailboat Fortuna III, of the Argentine Navy, won the Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro ocean race

The Fortuna III sailboat of the Argentine Navy won first place in the XXVII edition of the ocean regatta Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiroin which in addition to obtaining the Blue Ribbon and the best real time, he achieved the best corrected time of the competition.

The Navy said in a statement that the sailboat set sail on Saturday February 4 at 3:00 pm from the Argentine Yacht Club and crossed the finish line in the Brazilian city on Saturday February 11 at 4:39:31 pm. , with which he was not only crowned champion of the regatta, but also obtained the Blue Ribbon for being the first ship to arrive at its destination.

“Crossing the finish line with these results was nothing more and nothing less than the product of commitment, effort, physical endurancecamaraderie, a lot of discipline on board and, above all, the excellent work of a brilliant human team”, highlighted the commander of the yacht, the frigate captain Alessio Puchettaadding that he has “the responsibility and the pride to lead this group of people”.

Fortuna III crew was completed with 17 other people, between soldiers and civilians of the Argentine Navy: Navy Lieutenant Adrián Delayague Tocchetto (Chief of Navigation); Ensign Matías Emiliano León (Communications), Antonio Miguel Ángel Pérez (Logistics, general coordination, mast), Germán Alberto Merenda (Logistics, mast), Franco Santilli (Nautical safety, maneuver pedestals) and Sebastián Emanuel Bondaz (Force and navigation, maneuver pedestals); Chief Corporal Ángel Nicolás Nahuel Páez (Bossun); Petty Officer Second Víctor Pecci (Machines Manager); Civil Agent Lucas Ezequiel Vescio (General Coach); Edgardo Martinoli (Desk manager/helmsman); Nicolás Mauro (1st proel); Esteban Affonzo (2nd proel); Luis Verna (helmsman/genoa trimmer); Carlos Fernando Queirel (mainsail trimmer and complementary tactician); Matías José Solovian (Systems); Luis Mariano Cuello (Scots) and Juan Ignacio Morand (senior helmsman / trimmer).

“They have a special ability and a specific function on board, they are a necessary backbone for everything we have done so far”, explained Pucheta, and thanked the authorities of the Naval School of the Brazilian Navy for their collaboration, which provided facilities logistics and accommodation for the crew of the sailboat.

The official closing of the event was held this Thursday evening at the ICRJ Headquarters where all the participating endowments were present for the awards and recognition ceremony.

Considered one of the competitions most important in the South American nautical sector, the Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro ocean race was promoted by Hipólito Gil Elizalde, director of the magazine Yachting Argentino and veteran crew member of the Fjord II, who around 1945 proposed to organize a nautical competition uniting the two countries. Finally the the first edition dates back to 1947winning the Argentine sailboat Alfred.

For their part, the sailboats of the Argentine Navy, under the orbit of the General Secretariat of the Navy – which have participated in the nautical competition since its inception – have been crowned three times: in 1956 with the ARA Fortuna, in 1981 with the Fortuna II, and this time with the Fortuna III.

The current sailboat of the Argentine Navy was built in the Buenos Aires maintenance workshop, following the design and specifications of Germán Frers, who provided the design and collaborated in the construction.

The development and management of the project were entrusted to the captain of frigate Marcelo Goyenechea and the launching ceremony was held on October 16, 2004 in the North Darsena of the port of Buenos Aires.

The Fortuna III was thus incorporated into the international competition nautical team of the Navy and in the 2005, 2017 and 2020 editions it obtained the Blue Ribbon, the same recognition it has also recently obtained.

Furthermore, the Argentine Navy has assigned several naval units in each edition of the regatta to be supplied nautical safety to the fleet of participating sailboats. This year it was the ocean-going patrol boat ARA Storni that performed the role of escort vessel.