Inizia sabato la Middle Sea Race
MaxiRolex Middle Sea RaceSTP 65Vela 14 Ottobre 2008 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=559,250,170,,left]Rolex Middle Sea Race – La Valletta – Avrà inizio sabato prossimo la ventinovesima edizione della Rolex Middle Sea Race, regata d’altura tra le più famose del mondo. Dopo la drammatica edizione dello scorso anno, flagellata da venti impetuosi e da uno stato del mare che ha creato enormi problemi alla quasi totalità degli equipaggi, provocando rotture e l’affondamento di una barca, gli organizzatori sperano in condizioni meteo meno estreme, ma si augurano comunque nella presenza di venti sostenuti, atti a garantire una regata avvincente e veloce per tutti gli scafi in gara.
In attesa che gli esperti elaborino carte meteo dettagliate, il Royal Malta Yacht Club si fregia del nuovo record in fatto di partecipanti. Le sessantaotto presenze del 2006 sono infatti un lontano ricordo: a tutt’oggi, ad aver fatto pervenire la documentazione necessaria a prendere parte alla regata, come sempre in programma lungo il percorso che muovendo da La Valletta vi fa ritorno dopo aver compiuto il periplo in senso antiorario della Sicilia, sono ottanta equipaggi.
Tra i sicuri protagonisti dell’evento il Reichel-Pugh 78 Whisper di Michael Cotter, il maxi ketch Steinlagher 2, l’X-612 Solair del tedesco Peter Ufer, gli STP-65 Rosebud-Team DYT di Roger Sturgeon e Moneypenny di Jim Swartz, il TP-52 Ran, il VOR-60 Amer Sport Too di Damnir Repac e il Southern Wind Acaia Cube dell’attore Claudio Amendola.
Il record da battere è di 47 ore, 55 minuti e 3 secondi, stabilito lo scorso anno da Rambler, il maxi dello statunitense George David.
Per visiater il sito della manifestazione clicca qui.
Eighty boats register for fortieth anniversary race
[singlepic=560,170,250,,left][Rolex Middle Sea Race Press Release] The Rolex Middle Sea Race rarely does things in a small way – too much wind, not enough wind; not one, but two active volcanoes on the course; whirlpools and tidal gates; fast races, slow races. This is a course long on stories and adventures, short on the mundane and routine. This year looks to be no different. As of close of entries, eighty boats from twenty nations have registered. If all cross the start-line in Marsamxett Harbour on 18th October a new entry-record will have been set, eclipsing the previous best of sixty-eight in 2006.
“It is truly incredible – says Commodore Georges Bonello DuPuis, whose Beneteau 47.7 Escape, is one of the eighty – Once again we are delighted to be welcoming an international fleet, high in numbers and talent. We may be lacking the big-name supermaxis of previous years, but this is an excellent, open field with some great sailors and great boats. Lots are doing the race for a second, third, fourth time and a large number are here for the first time”. For the Royal Malta Yacht Club, this level of entry is reassuring if nothing else: “After last year’s bashing we thought numbers might be a bit down, with people put off by the reputation. It seems that just the opposite is true”.
Tim Camilleri, Watch Captain on the Russian-crewed X-41 Vikesha, is one who should know more than most the attractions and distractions of the race, with fourteen under his belt. “My first one was in 1982, and I remember it well. The weather was similar to last year. Not so severe or savage, but up to 40 knots on the nose at times” explains the 45-year old Camilleri. Being on the winning boat made up for the conditions, and Camilleri has racked up another three victories as a crewmember since then in 1996, 2001 and 2002.
“Conditions look to be light to medium this year. It’s going to be difficult for us to win against some of the bigger, modern boats that move in almost nothing, but with a large high pressure influencing the weather pattern we can expect plenty of localised conditions, with the gradient being cancelled out – counsels Camilleri, who is firmly in the camp of never saying never where this race is concerned – There’s always opportunity. It’s just a question of not giving up”. After 14 campaigns, Camilleri might be forgiven for sounding nonplussed when talking about the course. Not a bit of it. He’s looking forward to getting back out on the racetrack after last year’s blow out and thinks the increased number of yachts will provide a new challenge, especially at the Strait of Messina – the narrow channel separating mainland Italy from Sicily. “In the early races we rarely saw anyone after the first day. This year I expect to see boats all around and it could be crowded and interesting at Messina” he comments.
For Cathal Drohan and Paul Egan it will be very different. All the way from Ireland, this is their first time on the race competing with their X-41, Legally Brunette. Drohan has been looking forward to this chance for some years: “It’s always a race I’ve wanted to do. It’s been on the list for years, so I said I’d better do it now! Paul and I decided last year that we’d put it in the programme for this year”. Just getting here has been an examination, with the delivery trip starting in the middle of August and involving two gales in the Bay of Biscay before ending with a blissful sail east through the Mediterranean. Drohan read all about the last race and was not put off in the least, and although he admits to preferring it a bit lighter he hopes it will not be a light wind race. With over 30 years experience, including a Round Ireland Race, Drohan feels well equipped to take on the course and is looking forward to seeing Stromboli “…hopefully at night” he confesses to being surprised by the number of entries anticipating around 40-50, especially after previous year.
Forty-two of the eighty boats have registered so far, with the rest expected to do so over the next couple of days. For the early arrivals there is a tune-up race tomorrow, which Principal Race Officer David Farrugia expects will involve a short race to the north-west provided the wind plays ball: “We’re expecting a light westerly, and if that does arrive we’ll send them off on a course up the northern coast of Malta with the turning mark at the island of Comino”.
For those not taking part in the Coastal Race there will be another day of fevered activity preparing boat and crew for the 607 nautical mile adventure that looks set to be celebrating its fortieth anniversary in some style. George David’s Rambler (USA) established the current Course Record of 47 hours 55 minutes and 3 seconds in 2007.
The 29th Rolex Middle Sea Race commences on Saturday 18th October 2008 from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta. The Malta Rolex Cup on the 15th October will precede the main race. The final prize giving is at noon on 25th October.
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