Prysmian ITA747 and Giancarlo Pedote about to start the Mini Transat

Milan, 7 October 2013, Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cables and systems industry, is supporting the yachtsman Giancarlo Pedote and his Prysmian ITA 747 in the most important race for the Mini 6.50 class, a solo transatlantic race for smaller yachts.

Leaving on 13 October from Douarnenez, on the French Atlantic coast, the Mini Transat 6.50 involves a first leg of 1,257 miles to Puerto Calero (Lanzarote) in the Canary Islands, with an expected arrival date of between 23 and 26 October, and a second leg of 2,764 miles starting from the Canary Islands on 9 November and arriving in Pointe-à-Pitre, in Guadeloupe, between 23 and 30 November.

The Mini Transat is a French race that attracts participants from all over the world; this nineteenth edition will see 84 boats from 14 different nations set sail, of which 7 are Italian. This is a unique and challenging race that requires much sacrifice and great determination; Giancarlo, who has been preparing for this adventure for two years, says: "I’m very pleased with the progress made in the preparation of the boat and in my own personal preparation. The successes scored during the racing season leading up to the Mini Transat make us hopeful for a good result."

Giancarlo Pedote and Prysmian ITA 747, the Mini prototype winner of the Prix de la haute technologie (High-tech prize) awarded by the Fédération des Industries Nautiques (French Nautical Industries Federation), are presenting themselves at the Transat with a strong track record: from a first place in the Trinité – Plymouth in May and in the tough Trophée Marie-Agnès Péron in June, to a second place in the Demi-Clé and in the Pornichet Sélect 6.50 in April.

The Prysmian Group's participation in and support for this new challenge reflect a successful partnership that combines the values of sailing with the Group's business mission to pursue excellence of performance, quality, competitiveness and innovation, while doing its utmost to respect the environment and use resources responsibly.