Kiwi skipper Neville Crichton and his Australian-built super maxi, Alfa Romeo, have beaten 1831 other yachts to smash the race record in the Barcolana Yacht Race at the weekend (14 October 2007), the Italian event that attracts more yachts and spectators than any other European race.

For Neville Crichton it gives him his fourth win in the Barcolana, 2003 and 2004 in the first Alfa Romeo and 2006 and 2007 in Alfa Romeo 2. “This is our 4th win in the Barcolana and there is more enthusiasm among the crowd here even than in New Zealand, said Neville Crichton at the finish. “It has been a good race with a strong breeze at the start and we were quite concerned in causing no damage to the boats around us, so we did not hoist the spinnaker till we got clear. The rest of the race was quite straightforward and relatively easy. We weren't sure we would break the record because the wind calmed down in the last leg but we've made it and it was good fun. We probably won't be here next year but we are already looking forward to be back to defend our race record the year after!”

Alfa Romeo raced ahead of the crowd carrying out a smooth and technically perfect race, waiting to get clear before hoisting the gennaker, thanks to concerns about the 25,000 yachts and spectators in the Gulf of Trieste for the event.
 

Alfa Romeo was soon rushing ahead and towards the first mark at a speed of more than 25 knots. With more than a five minute advantage over all other rivals, a good 16-knot Bora wind, with gusts up to 35 knots, and Alfa Romeo had the victory in her hands, but only the excellent precision of her owner and helmsman, the boat's superiority enabled Crichton to break the record on the 16.5 miles course. Alfa Romeo 2 broke the record of 58'30'' set by Skandia in 2005.

Race Results: 1) Alfa Romeo 2 of Neville Crichton in 55'30"; 2) Maxijena of Mitija Kosmina; 3) Esimit-Europa of Igor Simcic; 4) Tuttatrieste2-Fiamme Gialle chartered by the Sailing Division of the Italian Financial Police; 5) Fly-Cometa of Flavio Favini; 6) Drake Passage-Banca Generali of Mauro Pelaschier; 7) Idrusa-Calvi of Paolo Montefusco; 8) Casino Park-Anyway True of Maurizio Bencic; 9) Ross I-Esercito of Cino Ricci; 10) Ushuaia - Devco Devco Srl of Sabatini Paolo.