Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/987221
31 | SUNDAY • 27 MAY 2018 maltatoday SPORTS SAILING Rolex Middle Sea Race to celebrate half a century THE 39th Rolex Middle Sea Race, which starts on the 20th October 2018 and marks the race's 50th birthday, has al- ready attracted a fleet of 41 yachts from 17 countries. The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is rightly expecting the record fleet of 122 entries to be exceeded by the time en- tries close on 5 October. Currently, the United King- dom (7 entries), France (6), Italy (6) and Germany (5) are vying to be the best repre- sented nation. Boats have also entered from Bulgaria, Cana- da, Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the USA. "Typically, we see entries from 30 countries or more," advises Godwin Zammit, Commodore of the RMYC, the organizing club. "A very special part of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is its tendency to be a melting pot of nations. Walking the dock is a real lesson in languages. We will see even more European countries being represented as time goes by as well as overseas yachts from other continents. Last year, for example, we had boats from South America, Australasia, Asia and South Africa. The club really enjoys hosting the world." New and notable entries, in recent weeks, include the just launched Swan 78 Haromi from Germany, with the ex- perienced Jesper Radich and Mike Broughton in the crew; representing a different era in design, Gijs van Liebergen's Dutch Swan 65 King's Legend was built in 1975 and came second overall in the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race with Skip Novak among the crew. Another new launch is the J/121 Jackhammer rep- resenting the United States, contrasting nicely with the Ni- cholson 55, Dasher, launched in 1975 and sailed by the Royal Signals Yacht Club from the United Kingdom. Another common trait at the Rolex Middle Sea Race is that once a crew has undertaken the race they return time and again. It is a big effort to participate in an offshore race, especially one situated in the middle of the Mediterranean. Many experi- enced skippers regard reaching the start line with a crew and boat both fully-prepared is a victory in itself. What is clear is that everyone who takes part in the Rolex Middle Sea Race believes the effort to have been worthwhile and that the vast majority will try to repeat the experience. Filippo Lancellotti, the Italian skipper of Sciara, is one owner who has become addicted to the race and all it offers to sail- ors: "I have participated in 14 races from 2001 to 2016, taking a sabbatical every five years or so." Lancelotti remembers his first race as if it were yester- day: "It was my second sailing race ever. It was all very excit- ing. The first night off southern Sicily was unforgettable, a fear- some Gregale (north-easterly wind) was blowing. I can still see the majestic waves rolling under the shining full moon. We spent the night on deck, watching, unable to sleep." The 2001 race was the last in the pre-Rolex sponsorship era and Lancellotti recalls the fleet was small with only 18 boats on the start. Only half would finish that race with the others retir- ing on the first night: "It was my best ever performance at the Rolex Middle Sea Race. We were fourth overall and first in class! Entries have soared in the years following, boats are more competitive, and my best re- sults have become mid-range. Never mind, I keep coming back!" Lancellotti finds it hard to pinpoint a favourite part of the course, every segment has its own peculiar attraction either scenically of tactically. What he is certain about is that the race is a true challenge and a worth- while one: "The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a difficult race and you may encounter truly im- pressive winds and seas. Boats and crews must be well pre- pared, but where else in the sailing world can you pass two erupting volcanoes!" The hardest and most excit- ing legs are often towards the end of the race, according to Lancelotti: "Down towards Pantelleria and Lampedusa the sea is shallow, the waves short and steep, winds can reach gale force. Crews and boats can suffer. However, the final stretch from Lampe- dusa to Malta, under strong Maestrale (northwesterly Mistral wind), can be a truly fantastic ride." Aside from the course, Lan- celotti reserves high praise for the Royal Malta Yacht Club and he believes its approach to competitors has been a strong factor in increasing entries and making crews want to return: "The Club and the race officers are al- ways welcoming, very profes- sional and they make you feel you are important to them; a positive difference compared to other races where only top participants get all the atten- tion. This is really very nice for Corinthian yachtsmen like me." As for the 50th anniversary, Lancellotti is excited to be a part of this historic occasion: "It is a well-deserved celebra- tion for a great race, the Club, the race officers, the thou- sands of crews that have par- ticipated and for Malta. I'll be there with Sciara!" History Books As soon as John Ripard knew the first race would actu- ally go ahead in 1968, he set about identifying a suitable yacht with which to compete. His then yacht, Tai Luk, was a 40-foot cruising boat with which Ripard had had some success in summer races to Syracusa, Messina and Lampe- dusa. Ripard knew the period selected for the actual race would be windier and he need- ed something capable of facing the conditions expected over a 600 race starting in December. Fortunately Albert Debarge, a French sailing friend, was will- ing to provide a boat on the proviso that it was named after his wife, Josian. Nautor's Swan had just started building the Swan 36, based on a highly suc- cessful Sparkman & Stephens' One Tonner design, Cybele, and John knew he had found his boat: "I immediately flew to the yard in Finland and placed an order ensuring the yacht would be shipped to Malta in the late Spring of 1968. This would give the nucleus of my crew – Ar- thur Podesta (who would go on to do the race every year until his untimely death in 2015), Paul Micallef and John Fiorini sufficient time to get used to the boat and prepare her for what was a daunting undertak- ing". Given the result, it was a wise choice of boat.