The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2007 just refuses to draw to a close. This exceptional race that has witnessed many different stories of success and misfortune has almost taken on a life of its own. Windsong (GBR), Nord Star (RUS) and Muzyka (ITA) all finished last night between 2AM and 2.50AM. This leaves one yacht on the course, the German trimaran High Q1, for whom the race must have taken on the character of a personal Everest.
A quick look at her course plotted on the race tracker shows how much the wind since Pantelleria has conspired not to favour the multihull in either direction or strength. Sharp deviations off the rhumb line suggest efforts to find better angles of attack or more pressure. For the moment, at least, she is pointing at Malta, but is still some 20 miles from the Comino Channel sailing at 4 knots in a 5-10 knot southerly. Fingers that are probably already crossed will be getting tighter as the deadline for finishing – 0800 on Saturday 27th October – starts to loom in the headlights.
After finishing early yesterday morning, Jonas Diamantino, the skipper of Gasan Mamo Insurance Comanche Raider, the third and final Maltese boat to complete the 607-nautical mile course, has had an opportunity to reflect on this his sixth Rolex Middle Sea Race. Like many others, he set off last Saturday in full knowledge that strong winds and heavy seas were likely to impact the race. Having never been in such conditions himself, he could be excused for not having a clear picture of what to expect. Diamantino is clearly confident in his yacht, an old Admiral’s Cup racer from the IOR period in the eighties. Diamantino is first to admit that she is unlikely to win any prizes against more modern yachts. For Diamantino the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a challenge. Preparing the boat, selecting the crew and embarking on a 607-mile voyage are all part of the fun. Whatever the result, he believes he is a winner just completing the course.
“It was a one time experience. There were moments when I was terrified for the crew, the boat and, of course, myself. Whilst the winds were expected to be strong, the northeasterly that hit us on the Saturday night was not expected at that wind strength. Whilst I love racing I wouldn’t want to be in those conditions on a regular basis or intentionally,” recounts Diamantino in a refreshingly open manner.
Diamantino has previous experience in a tough Middle Sea Race. He participated in the 2001 event, widely remembered for the wind and sea conditions that prevented much of the fleet from making it to the start. A bit like this year’s race. The direct comparison ends there though, fortunately.