Rolex Middle Sea Race, condizioni in peggioramento
AlturaMaxiRolex Middle Sea RaceVela 26 Ottobre 2010 Zerogradinord 0
Rolex Middle Sea Race – Malta – Si susseguono gli arrivi in quel di Malta dove, dopo la vittoria di Esimit Europa 2, giunto sul traguardo nel tardo pomeriggio di ieri, a chiudere la propria partecipazione alla Rolex Middle Sea Race 2010 sono stati ICAP Leopard e Alegre. Il Maxi di Mike Slade ha fermato i cronometri alle 22 di ieri notte, mentre il Mini Maxi di Andres Soriano, vincitore della passata edizione, ha fatto altrettanto alle 8 di questa mattina. A rendere difficoltso l’approccio di Alegre, salito al secondo posto della classifica in tempo compensato dietro Esimit Europa 2, è stato il deciso peggioramento delle condizioni meteo.
Un peggioramento che ha interessato anche il resto del gruppo di testa, come spiega Mike Broughton da bordo del TP52 Pace: “La scorsa notte abbiamo vissuto momenti di tensione quando il passaggio di un fronte ci ha proiettato nel bel mezzo di un temporale. La barca è stata colpita da un fulmine: fortunatamente non è successo nulla di grave: abbiamo perso parte dell’elettronica e il sensore dell’anemometro”.
Da bordo del Baltic 77 Black Pearl, invece, si apprende che nel corso del pomeriggio di ieri l’equipaggio è stato impegnato in un serrato match race con il VOR 60 Ambersail. Un duello risoltosi a favore del secondo quando il Baltic ha subito la rottura della drizza del genoa, temporaneamente sostituito dalla staysail. Appena in tempo per affrontare l’ingresso del fronte perturbato e di raffiche di vento prossime ai 30 nodi.
Chi invece lotta ancora con il vento leggero sono gli scafi impegnati nelle retrovie. Prima di Favignana, infatti, la brezza si è mantenuta impalpabile e le velocità sull’acqua non hanno superato i 2-3 nodi.
Nel frattempo si sono registrati altri ritiri: più esattamente il sesto e il settimo. Ad unirsi ai vari Calipso IV e Nautilus QQ7 sono stati l’X-55 Capricciricci e il Viva 48 Futura.
Per visitare il sito dell’evento clicca qui.
Per seguire la regata sul tracker clicca qui.
Per consultare la classifica clicca qui.
ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE, CHALLENGING CONDITION
[Regattanews Press Release] The island of Malta was raked with heavy rain and lightening storms for the second morning running. The accompanying turbulent wind and rain were hardly a welcome for Alegre as they reached the South Comino channel, and eventually crossed the line in Marsamxett Harbour at 0800, in third place on the water. ICAP Leopard arrived last night at 2200, three and a half hours behind line honours winner, Esimit Europa 2.
Mike Slade was quick to applaud Esimit, as ICAP Leopard moored up. ” They sailed a great race and should be congratulated for that. It never looked like we were going to catch them in those conditions, but we did our best and, as always, we had a lot of fun along the way. That’s what it’s all about in the end, isn’t it?”
Will Best, navigator on Alegre, described the latter part of the race for them, and said, “It was pretty straightforward from Favignana; we had a good run down there, though breeze was a little lighter than we thought. We laid Pantelleria on the wind, on starboard tack, hoping to get lifted. We didn’t, but still just laid it in one tack, which was great. From Lampedusa onwards, the breeze really came in; the TP52s (Lucky and Pace) and E1 had kept us company before then, but we extended on them. We have made some changes to the boat since last year, but the heavy weather was all running this time; we didn’t get the same increase in performance that we know we have upwind. Physically the race was easier than last year, but mentally it was a lot tougher.”
Onboard the TP52 Pace, Mickey Broughton reported in last night, and wrote, “We had an almighty crack of thunder earlier as the front passed and the boat got struck by lightening. Fortunately, all okay except some electronics that we are working on, and wind gear that got taken out.”
The Baltic 77, Black Pearl reported in yesterday that they had been match racing with the Volvo 60 Ambersail, until some problems with the jib halyard and had to change to the staysail, which slowed them down. However, once around the top corner of Sicily yesterday afternoon, the wind and waves increased and they were doing +10 knots boat speed with 30 knots of wind pushing them home.
At the northwest corner of Sicily off Trapani, a large part of the fleet was struggling with the opposite problem, little to no wind, and making 2-3 knots of boat speed. Once past Favignana, the breeze has increased and speeds slowly inched higher.
The overall handicap winner is still up for grabs with several contenders still racing towards the finish. Included in the top three, as of the rounding of Favignana, are the leading Maltese boat, the J-122 Artie, the TP52 Lucky, and the J-133 Jaru, also from Malta.
The X-55 Capricciricci and the Viva 48 Futura both retired this morning, bringing the total number of retired boats to seven, with three boats finished and 66 still racing.
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