Sergio Davì warms up the engines for the ocean crossing on a rib

Sergio Davì

The Mediterranean “warm up” of Sergio Davì has begun in view of the June enterprise, where with New Jolly Prince 38cc will sail across the Atlantic Ocean – from Palermo to New York – moving to the most extreme latitudes, driven by his Suzuki DF350A, the most powerful outboard of the Japanese company.

The “warm up”

A “warm-up” tour of the Mediterranean to make sure everything is okay. Sergio Davì left Palermo and sailed to Malta with his rib, the Nautilus Explorer. In this week of testing Davì will test materials, solutions, weight distribution and trim in view of the long navigation that awaits him. The total will be about 450 miles: 24 and 25 April in Lipari, Aeolian Islands; 27 and 28 April in Valletta, Malta; May 4 in Marina di Riposto, Catania; May 5 Marina di Nettuno, Messina.

The real challenge: through the Atlantic ice

The Ice RIB Challange will not be a trivial journey because, before crossing the Atlantic, Davì will go north, touching in sequence the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland and then up to Canada: almost 7,000 nautical miles to cover even in the cold and in the ice. For most of the trip, Davì will be alone and for the wheelhouse seats he has chosen the technology of Besenzoni, one of the sponsors of the challenge.

It will also be an important test for fuel consumption where the Suzuki technology present in the DF350A will be put to the test: that of the Lean Burn lean combustion system. What is it? When sailing at a constant cruising speed, just like in long raids, this technology reduces the percentage of gasoline used in combustion, increasing, instead, the amount of oxygen and therefore of air.

FOCUS ENGINES: DF350A Suzuki

The two engines that Davì will use for this undertaking are the only outboard engines equipped with a propulsion system with two counter-rotating propellers. This system, called Dual Prop is a fundamental technical feature when it comes to pushing large hulls. Because this device, which helps torque the V6 thermal unit at 55° from 4,390 cc and will be the decisive element for the rapid achievement of the glide and the best navigation attitude, which will also put it in the condition of consuming less.

Our test on the DF350A SUZUKI (CLICK HERE)

Among the objectives of the raid is the sensitization to the protection of the marine environment, with particular attention to the fight against all forms of pollution by plastics. To this end, the IAS – CNR (Institute for the study of impactsAntropic and Sustainability in the marine environment that is part of the National Research Council), which will conduct specific research on the presence of microplastics in waters, both oceanic and Mediterranean.

The ICE RIB CHALLENGE

– a total of 6,600 nautical miles,

– an average total petrol consumption of 19,000 litres,

– 75 days of navigation (including stops),

– 500/600 hours of navigation,

– 24/30 stages