Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1004621
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 JULY 2018 30 SPORTS TRIATHLON SAILING Fabio Spiteri to up the Triathlon game Triple Ultra Triathlon being attempted on July 27 DOUBLE Ironman Fabio Spi- teri is upping the game and at- tempting a Triple Ultra Triath- lon – a feat no other Maltese triathlete has succeeded in do- ing so far. Held in Lensahn, Germany between the 27th and 29th July, Spiteri will be joining 54 other athletes from all over the world to cover a distance of 11.4km swimming, 540km cycling and a 126.6km run. If the distances weren't daunting enough, the courses are covered on short loops that require a substantial amount of laps – for exam- ple the run course is a loop of 1.32km which needs to be cov- ered 96 times! Spiteri's training has been very specific in order to ensure that all facets of the race are covered – distance, night training, adap- tation to being awake for more than 24 hours and of course well-being. Spiteri, has a built a strong foundation for long distance racing with a considerable amount of endurances races on his CV having raced in seven Ironman Races, 21 Ironman 70.3 in the past five years. Training for the Triple Ul- tra Triathlon included cycling round Sicily in three days – where he established a record in the process, several 11kms swim, regular 300km cycles and long runs clocking 70kms. The latest training session saw him run across Gozo, swim from Gozo to Malta and run from Cirkewwa to Birzebbu- gia. If long sessions on the road weren't tough enough, part of the mental preparation re- quired for such a race included cycling for hours on end on a static bike. "Training sessions need to be well thought out, not just from a physical preparation perspec- tive but also logistical one – roping in friends and family to assist in the long hours of train- ing, especially when one is out on the water or cycling and run- ning in the dark, " says Spiteri. "At this point I feel I am ready for this. One can never be too confident as anything can hap- pen on race day, but I will stay positive throughout keeping in mind all my friends who sup- ported me, athletes who joined for some of the training sessions and of course my sponsors" Despite all this, Spiteri takes this in his stride and also finds time to help in the fight against Animal Cruelty and raising awareness on the importance of clean seas and the destructive reality of plastic pollution. Fabio Spiteri is being support- ed by Garmin Malta, Eurosport Malta, Wheel Wizard, Millen- nium Clinics, Mosta Tri Club, Festina, 24/7 Fitness Club, Go & Fun and General Automation Services. Further race informa- tion and eventual re- sults will be available on - https://triathlonlensahn.de/ 100 days to go: 55 boats already entered for 50th anniversary MALTA has often been de- scribed as the 'crossroads of the Mediterranean'. The fleet gath- ering for the 2018 Rolex Middle Sea Race may well help change that description to the 'cross- roads of the world', certainly the sailing world. Some 55 yachts, representing 25 countries from as far afield as Australia, Cana- da, Chile, The Philippines, and the United States, have entered to date. There is nothing unu- sual in this spread of nations. The race, which this year starts on 20th October, has always attracted a polyglot fleet and a walk along the dock is a cultural affair. Nicholas Ibañez Scott, skip- per of the Chilean entry Anita, a J/122, is returning to the race for a second time having made his debut in the tough condi- tions of 2017. Anita was one of only 35 yachts out of 104 start- ers to complete the 606-nauti- cal mile course last year. Testa- ment to both the tough streak running through a crew used to the southern straits of Patago- nia and the challenge presented by this classic offshore race. One of the elements that struck Scott the most about their first encounter with the race was a sense of belonging. "We feel very much at home here," he said before the start, putting this down to the warmth and professionalism of the Royal Malta Yacht Club along with the attitude and quality of the competing sailors. Throw in the spectacular scenery of the racecourse and no wonder he is coming back in October. The Botin 65 Caro, skippered by German yachtsman Max- imillian Klink, has undertaken the race four times since her launch in 2013. The best result under IRC, the rating system used to determine the overall winner of the race, was in 2016 when she finished 5th from a fleet of 95 contenders. Klink, who also took on the race in his previous yacht, is typical of those who are bitten by the event's allure to return over and again, regardless of results, to enjoy the hospitality ashore, the remarkable landscapes and the varied sailing conditions. Vladimir Liubomirov is a fa- miliar name on the internation- al yacht racing circuit. His Bro- nenosec team has participated in in many of the top sailing competitions over the recent years, putting in some impres- sive performances on the TP52, RC44 and Swan 60 circuits. This year the Russian team, representing the St Petersburg Yacht Club, will take on the Rolex Middle Sea Race in their latest yacht, a ClubSwan 50. A proven one design racer, this will be a first, serious offshore test for the Juan K design. Canadian honour lies in the hands of Morgen Wat- son and the crew of Hermes, a Pogo 12.50. At the time of this release, Hermes is getting some serious miles under her belt, taking part in the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta transat- lantic race from Bermuda to Hamburg, Germany. The crew has already proved its mettle, surviving and finishing a par- ticularly brutal edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 earlier this year. Countries represented in the 2018 Rolex Middle Sea Race so far include: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Philippines, Po- land, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Swit- zerland, Ukraine, United King- dom and the United States. With entries open until 5 October 2018, the RMYC has every hope of beating the record entry number of 122, set in 2014. Historical Note Another race celebrating its 50th anniversary is the Golden Globe solo round the world race. The RMYC has invited Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the winner of that race and first solo, non-stop circumnavigator, to be its guest of honour for the start. It is hoped he will be joined by Alan Green, one of the Rolex Middle Sea Race found- ers and former Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The club is planning a Q & A session ahead of the start that would see these two joined by Admiral Giovanni Iannucci, a stalwart of the jury for many years, and John Ripard Sr, President of the RMYC and skipper of Josian, the first yacht to win the race back in 1968. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROLEX/KURT ARRIGO