Fountain Pen: Monteverde Regatta Sport Blue and Carbon Fiber

VISUAL

The Regatta Sport has such a unique look. The straight lines of the body and cap make it look more like a baton than a pen, and the alternating textures make it really interesting to look at. This pen is named for a boating event, but as someone who knows very little about boating, I don't see the connection. It does look very modern and has an engineered aesthetic that I really like. This is a pen that I enjoy first and foremost for its appearance.

TACTILE

Sometimes it is nice to just take pleasure in how a pen feels to hold in your hands. Between this pen's heavier body and the variety of textures, this pen is a fidgeter's dream. This particular model features a satin anodized blue metal separated by knurled metal bands and glossy smooth carbon fiber sections. It has been decently scratch resistant, too!

PRACTICAL

I really appreciate how this pen looks and feels. It falls a bit short of expectations in actual use, however. On the positive side, I appreciate the satisfying magnetic cap and super quick magnetic posting. It posts securely and with a satisfying 'click'. It hasn't been too bad in regards to drying out - I would say that the nib does dry out faster than I'd wish, but it's not a deal breaker and honestly, given that the magnet allows the cap to rock back and forth, I would have expected much worse.

The section is made of a polished metal with a fairly pronounced convex curvature. It is a combination of the narrower grip and the lack of texture that makes this pen a bit uncomfortable to hold. There is a decent step up between the section and the body, and honestly I feel like this step up is a life safer. I find my fingers using this step up as an anchor to hold the pen.

This stub nib occasionally has some flow issues and skipping. Combine that with the slightly imperfect seal of the cap and you have a pen that you can't trust to write on command. I find that it's mainly a problem if I leave it inked for too long without writing, but even on a good day I'll have to repeat a few skipped down-strokes. It is a bit frustrating!

It is a fairly heavy pen and is pretty dramatically back-weighted when posted. As a collector of heavy pens I'm used to adjusting for this, but for longer writing sessions I would switch to writing unposted.

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STATISTICAL

Pen Measurements:

Weight: 52g

Weight of Cap: 20 g

Length Capped: 132mm

Length Uncapped: 123mm

Length Posted: 158mm

Nib: 6mm Stub Steel

Body Style: Tube

Fill Method: Converter

Fill Volume: 0.7ml

Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan and LAMY Safari

My Fountain Pen Database

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OVERALL

Pros:

• Unique appearance and material/texture combination

• Satisfying magnetic uncapping and posting

Cons:

• Stub Nib showing some loss of finish and flow issues/hard starts

• Thinner section rather slippery/hard to grip

Monteverde pens have been a bit hit-or-miss when it comes to nib quality. I have intermittent issues with this nib, but in the end I still enjoy this pen. It was my first Regatta Sport and one of my first stub nibs, so it gets a bit of a nostalgia pass in my books. The Regatta Sport is still a decent quality for the price! As a mid-level entry pen it has a lot of strong competition with pens like the TWSBI Eco. For the novelty factor of the materials and the magnetic cap, I still recommend giving it a try!

There are many different colors of the Regatta Sport that have been released. They are available at most pen retailers.

DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.