Malta has been famed for demonstrable acts of bravery over the centuries and none more so than when she is under siege. Whilst the aggressor yesterday was only the wind, gusting up to 45 knots, there was a definite sense on the bridge of the Royal Malta Yacht Club that the competitors in yesterday’s coastal race were under assault. In keeping with the bravery exhibited by this island in the past, five yachts chose not to be put off by the conditions and to take on the sea and wind.

Principal Race Officer David Farrugia made it clear at the beginning of the week that, despite the prevailing strong winds, if the situation permitted he would hold the scheduled coastal races for anyone keen enough to test themselves and their boat. No race was held on Tuesday, because of a standing wave blockading the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour. Yesterday was still windy, but without the potentially treacherous wave. The course took the yachts from the start line off the RMYC westwards along the northern coast of Malta around Comino, the small island that lies between the ‘mainland’ and Gozo, and then back to finish off the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

The five brave knights of the sea were Amindzhanov Temur’s Nord Star and Oleg Evdokimenko’s Vikesha both from Russia, local Maltese legend Arthur Podesta with Elusive Medbank, Felix Scheder-Biechin’s Vineta from Germany and Sven Niklaus’ Tai Shan from Switzerland.

Vineta was first home whilst Elusive won on handicap – first blood to the local boats in advance of the Rolex Middle Sea Race which starts on Saturday.

The start was gripping, with the wind funnelling into Marsamxett Harbour between Tigné Point and Fort St Elmo and sending long rollers down between the walls of Valletta and the foreshore of Manoel Island. The start sequence is managed from the ravelin in front of the main gate to Fort Manoel.

The view across to Valletta is spectacular enough. Throw in five yachts jousting for position whilst battling a gusting wind and waves, and it becomes truly memorable. For many first-timers the line is intimidating with the steep sided bastions of Valletta at one end and lumps of stone beneath the ravelin at the other. For Marcus Ziltener, the tactician on Tai Shan, it proved challenging, “It was my first time on this start line. We were a little bit early and we had to restart but it was very nice to race out of this historic harbour with the wind from the front and the waves. It was very special. With a lot of boats it could be more dangerous to do that in this wind situation, but with 5 boats on the line it was OK. It was a good practice for the long distance race.”

Not quite as challenging as it was for the Russian yacht Nord Star, which at one point looked as though it was going to pile out of control into Valletta. It looked far more alarming from the shore.

Vineta enjoyed a wet, but fast race around the course, spoilt only by a big tear to the number 4 headsail. Even under a storm jib, the Marten 49 had the legs to beat the rest of the fleet home.

Tai Shan meanwhile was undergoing a real shakedown sail. Skipper Sven Niklaus is an experienced sailor with some miles under his belt. Niklaus was certainly confident throughout, but was surprised by the winds encountered, “we did our own weather work this morning, so we expected very rough sea up to four-metre waves and 20 – 30 knots of wind, but in fact we had between 35 and 45 knots, with the majority being 37/38 knots. But the decision to go yesterday was a good one for us and we were happy for the race committee to give the green light.”

The view from the winning boat was slightly different. No playing it down for Arthur Podesta, who has seen it all before and more in this part of the sailing world, “it was a pasting!” he said, “the waves were far greater than I expected although interestingly the biggest were around the harbour entrance. We got a good start and were first out which was nice. Vineta eventually passed us, but she is faster and newer. It was good to beat her on handicap.”

Podesta was very pleased with the decision to go ahead with the race and was disappointed a few more boats had not taken up the challenge – although he understood why they had not, “my argument for going is simple. I’m going to be out on a 600-mile race for four or five days with the possibility of these conditions. So a three-hour pasting is nothing! We have some work to do before the start but we’ll be ready.”

Overall Results

1. Elusive Medvank, Arthur Podesta, MLT

2. Vikesha, Oleg Evdokimenko, RUS

3. Tai Shan, Sven Niklaus SUI

4. Vineta, Felix Scheder-Biechin GER

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2007 starts from Marsamxett Harbour on Saturday 20 October at 11am.