Aina Bauzà establishes a new transatlantic sailing record

• The new transatlantic sailing record for the Cadiz – Bahamas route in solo sailing on a monohull is 30 days 22  hours and 34 minutes.
• Aina arrived today at 12:49 Spanish time on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas.

With a journey of 30 days, Aina Bauzà, the sailor from the Club de Vela Puerto de Andratx, has made history by establishing the new transatlantic solo sailing record on a monohull, departing from Cadiz towards the Bahamas on March 3rd. The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), the organization responsible for Sailing World Records, will certify this achievement, making Aina the first person to complete this journey between Cadiz and San Salvador solo on a monohull, the first woman to do so, and the first navigator on a 21-foot boat, that is, 6.5 meters, at just 29 years old.

Initially, the goal was to cover the nearly 4,000 nautical miles separating Cadiz from San Salvador in less than 21 days; however, adverse weather conditions delayed her arrival. ‘The weather did not allow taking the shortest route; I had to go far south to stay in the area of favorable winds and cover many more miles than planned,’ explained Aina. Ultimately, she covered approximately 4,800 miles in 31 days, with peak speeds reaching 18 knots

Capricious Weather

Aina faced unpredictable weather throughout the entire journey. During the first phase of the voyage, she encountered three cold fronts. Although the arrival in the Canary Islands was positive, she experienced some hours of low speed due to wind shadowing around the islands. Later, as she ventured into the Atlantic, she had to descend further south due to the proximity of the Azores high-pressure system. During the crossing of the central Atlantic, she encountered trade winds that gradually intensified, with days of winds exceeding 25 knots and waves up to 4 meters high. Finally, as she approached the Caribbean, a succession of up to 4 quite active cold fronts caused more variable winds and, above all, rainfall with considerably high intensities.

A Personal Challenge

Beyond the global challenge, this journey represented a personal challenge for Bauzà. ‘It was the first time I spent so many days alone on board and the first Atlantic crossing.’ For over 16 days, she didn’t sight any trace of human life, only in Caribbean waters, near the arrival, did she encounter the first cargo ship. ‘I saw it on the AIS, and I couldn’t believe it, there was a ship nearby, I had to see it with my own eyes.’ She was also surprised to find a large amount of garbage in the ocean. ‘I found a kitchen fluorescent light or packaging, pipes… It made me very sad because it was impossible for me to pick it up at the speed I was sailing.’

 

Streaming the story

Aina has been sharing live updates on social media throughout her journey, and now she plans to share this experience in a short documentary that will be produced in the coming months. It will narrate what it was like to live aboard a 6.5-meter boat for a month without the usual comforts: no bed, kitchen, or bathroom.

Next Steps: Returning to Europe

The navigator is now preparing for the return to Europe; the ‘Redó by Ànima Negra’ sails back to Mallorca aboard the Peters & May fleet, a collaborator in this adventure. Despite the success, Aina is eager for new challenges and projects, although she would now like to share the experience of sailing with more people and learn from other sailors.

‘I have sailed alone, but this would not have been possible without all the support received.’

This project has received the backing of numerous sponsors and partners, among them, Ànima Negra stands out as the main supporter of Aina since the beginning of her oceanic career, along with other Mallorcan companies such as Astilleros de Mallorca, whose support was essential in preparing the boat for this challenge. Additionally, B&G sponsored the onboard electronics, Omniaccess provided the satellite connection, PL Sails contributed with the design of sails specifically for the Redó, and Robline took care of the rigging, among other collaborators whose details can be found on the project’s website.