The fascinating adventure of RIB skipper Sergio Davì continues alone in the most extreme and difficult part of his bid to complete an ‘Ice RIB Challenge’ from Palermo to New York.
Since his departure from Palermo about a month ago, Sergio Davi in his Nautilus Explorer RIB called to Dun Laoghaire and Belfast in July and has already covered more than 3,500 nautical miles of the 7,000 planned.
In recent weeks he reached the Faroe Islands, where he was a guest of the Torshavn Marina, and Iceland, where he was received by the Snarfari Marina of Reykjavik and representatives of the Peace Run of Iceland.
The stop in Reykjavik was important because, as scheduled, he carried out the second pit-stop by lifting up the boat, cleaning the hull, checking the engines with oil change and filters before continuing with the second half of the journey.
Currently Davì, on board of his Nautilus Explorer, is sailing through the “Denmark Strait”, that’s to say the oceanic waters separating Iceland from Greenland.
At Tasiilaq (also known as Assamalik), first Greenlandic port of call, Sergio Davì is waited for by the Italian explorer Robert Peroni, who has crossed Greeland by foot several times. After Tasiilaq he will have a stop in the small town of Qaqortoq, south of Greenland, and then on to Canada.
Solo navigation involves many difficulties. It is very tiring both physically and mentally. It is impossible to be able to rest and there can be no distraction or loss of concentration. A hard test to which Davì seems to respond with excellent results.
The technical-logistic support offered by the partners of the Ice Rib Challenge is also fundamental: as we know Davì is carrying out this adventure on board a totally standard RIB (rigid inflatable boat) branded Nuova Jolly Marine model Prince 38cc, powered by two outboard engines Suzuki DF350A dual prop, with only few adjustments to make suitable the navigation at extreme latitudes. Thanks to the special nautical tent made by Toti (nautical upholstery) and the special pilot seats created by Besenzoni, the captain can face difficult sailing hours, sheltering from rain, wind and cold. Moreover, thanks to the use of Amphibious bags (dry equipment), all equipments and personal goods are protected from bad weather and temperature changes.
