Mattero Sericano, Luca Rosetti: the two of them, each in their own corner, have monopolised the podiums in everything that can be raced in Mini6.50s in the Mediterranean or across the Atlantic. Let's take the first: 27 years old, born in Genoa, with the look of a rock guitarist and a Renaissance face painted by 'Michel Angelo'. Any victories? Since 2018, as many as there are curls in his hair: Arcipelago, MiniSolo, MiniMed, Granpremio Italia. A ticket in the top ten on the MiniFasnet and an 18^e place in the MiniTransat 6.50. But it was above all his meeting with Alberto Bona (the current skipper of the Class40 'Ipsa') that took him to another dimension. Firstly, when the talented Italian appointed him 'boat captain' of the Class40 'Magale', entrusted to him by another talented Transalpine, Giovanni Soldini, then as préparateur for 'Enel Green Power', with a view to the 2017 Transat Jacques-Vabre. The virus was caught. Last year, Matteo Sericano bought 'Lucente', Martin Le Pape's Class40, with a fine programme ahead of him.

So it was only natural that he turned to his sidekick, Luca Rosetti. Rosetti, also 29, was born in Bologna and is a high-flying 'ministe'. With a slightly less extensive list of achievements than Matteo Sericano. But his victory in the MiniTransat2023 is worth all the rest. Especially as he was the second Italian to win the legendary transatlantic race. The first to have done so? A certain Ambrogio Beccaria! Another interesting experience for the handsome dark-haired sailor: in September 2022, he will be racing stage 3 of the Globe40, on 'Milai' with Masatomo Suzuki. Mauritius-Auckland, via the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Cape Leuwin and Bass Strait. 35 days of rather extreme sailing. That's what makes a good sailor. Last April, the two guys embarked on their first transatlantic race, the Niji40 between Belle Ile en Mer and Marie Galante in the West Indies. The race was cut short halfway through when the third crew member, Giovanni Licursi, suffered a serious injury. A safe return to Europe, then home to the Mediterranean. It was the Paprec600 Saint-Tropez, which finished at the foot of the podium, behind the leaders Mikael Mergui, François Verdier and Kito de Pavant. Not exactly something to be ashamed of. Then the Massilia Cup Offshore - Barcelona Trophy. So, this MEDMAX Occitanie-Saïdia Resort, the two mates Sericano and Rosetti, with their perfume of opera singers, are approaching it with appetite. In short, another pair of Italians, even if they are inexperienced in Class40, who you have to watch out for. That's a lot, isn't it?