The month kicked off with a bang, with training at the Port-la-Forêt sailing centre. Ambrogio was invited for a 24-hour session in false solo, alongside MACIF, Charal, MACSF and Initiative Cœur. A tough training block, where speed wasn't always there. Trim issues? Who knows. The perfect chance to ask plenty of useful questions, and to improve.

What followed was an even more rock'n'roll outing: a big depression hit Brittany with gusts over 45 knots on 8 September. For this session, Francesco Sena came aboard to share the intense emotions with us. Not the easiest baptism for a first long outing on Allagrande Mapei, but an unforgettable experience for sure. Francesco, a talented YouTuber, made a video about it, which you can watch here:

We're halfway through the month now, 15 September, ready to set off for the Défi Azimut. But first, sailing friends gathered in Concarneau for a big maritime gathering open to everyone: the memorial ceremony for Charlie Dalin. Several members of the team knew him well, had worked alongside him, and were keen to be there. It was a beautiful moment: instead of a minute of silence, a minute of noise. Hundreds of boats, flares, foghorns. Thousands of people on shore too. A moving tribute from the sailing community, to thank one of the greatest sailors of his generation.

First participation for Ambrogio, while some rivals have already done more than ten. It's the annual IMOCA gathering, in Lorient, right on our doorstep. Fifteen competitors at the start, the race split into three events.

The first event is the speed sprints between Lorient and Groix, sailed fully crewed. On board: Ambrogio, Albi Riva, Pablo Santurde Del Arco and Riccardo Apolloni, plus Mapei guests and Lorenzo Sironi for photos. The concept is simple: sail straight across the wind over a one-nautical-mile course. For several hours the boats can attempt as many runs as they like, and at the end of the day whoever posted the best time wins. The wind built little by little, putting on a real show of flying boats. MACIF takes the event hands down, with an average of over 32 knots over the mile. We finish fifth with a 29.5-knot average, tied with fourth place and just one second behind third.

The second event is the most important one, if not the only one that really counts in this race: the 48H Azimut, which in the end lasted just over 41 hours.

Start from Lorient and the first exit near Groix. Allagrande Mapei is straight into the leading group, side by side with MACIF on a long run south, almost a match race. At the mark MACIF rounds first, just 200 metres ahead: the manoeuvre to close the gybing angle costs Ambrogio a precious mile and a half.

From there begins the long climb north, which turns into an endless beat. This is the moment when, as they say, "the rich get richer": MACIF is first to latch onto the new breeze and pulls away, while Allagrande Mapei stays trapped in lighter air. From behind, Ambrogio has to keep pushing to hold off his chasers, on a day made up of almost nothing but upwind sailing.

Allagrande Mapei crosses the finish line in second place after 41 hours and 5 minutes of racing, having stayed in the leading group from start to finish. No win this time, but another race led from the front, and confirmation that the new V3 foils are more than competitive. "I'm very happy with this second place," Ambrogio said at the finish. "I'm still getting to know the boat with its new foils, and honestly I didn't think it was possible to hold these speeds."

During these 48 hours, the Best OBR competition also took place, won by Lorenzo with this video. The joy of being on board, facing the intensity and toughness of the IMOCAs.

The next day, the third and final event: the Tour de Groix, again fully crewed. Same crew, with Carlos in place of Albi. We finished seventh, but that wasn't really the team's goal: it was the perfect opportunity to introduce the boat and sailing to the Mapei guests on board with us.

That's how Ambrogio's first Défi Azimut comes to a close, mostly serving to test the boat and gather valuable data ahead of the Route du Rhum.

A week of travel between Paris and Milan followed. First stop Paris, at the Folies Bergère, for the Route du Rhum press conference. Then Milan, where we put together an afternoon with Francesca Clapcich titled "Frankie e Bogi alla Route du Rhum," hosted by Francesca Piantanida. A great event, with 250 people in the room and more than 50 joining online.

Two days later we were at the Beltrade cinema in Milan with the Teorema team, to premiere our film Night Shift. We'd already taken it to over 52 cinemas across France, Belgium and Switzerland earlier in the year. Since then we've worked on a longer, Italian-language version, to kick off a tour of Italian cinemas. The screening was sold out, and afterwards Michele Lupi sat down with Ambrogio and the film's creators for a conversation: another great moment of sharing. After the Route du Rhum we'll work on organising a small Italian tour for Night Shift. We'll keep you posted on venues and dates.

Meanwhile in Lorient, the boat came out of the water for one last "express" refit. On the list: resurfacing the foils' outer skin, repairing the keel, fitting new solar panels, a few small repairs and a full check of the mast. The final checks before the big leap, in other words. Allagrande Mapei went back in the water on Tuesday the 29th, fully reassembled and ready to sail before October even begins.