However Maserati becomes the first monohull yacht to complete this crossing timed and as such there is no record to be broken. So apart from setting a future reference point this first voyage is largely irrelevant and the potential of the crew and yacht remain unproven until further timed challenges get underway.

For the record though, having set sail from Cadiz in Spain on 2 February at h 11 50' 08'' GMT, they travelled a total of 4632 real miles at an average speed of 17.6 knots.

“I’m extremely pleased,” declared Soldini immediately after crossing the finish line. “We’ve established an excellent time reference, which will be very difficult to beat. The only fly in the ointment was the last night, which was really rough. We had a technical problem with the hydraulic system for the keel, which doesn’t move any more. We were all awake, and sailed with a fixed, central keel, but obviously it slowed us down. In any case, we couldn’t have hoped for a better result. We were spot on with all our choices regarding the weather, and I’m really pleased with how the boat and the crew performed.”

The VOR 70 Maserati will carry on, without stopping, to Charleston, South Carolina, where it will be completely overhauled. After the work is completed, Giovanni Soldini and his team will then attempt to beat the 24-hour speed record.