Slow race expected due to calm conditions

A record number of 77 boats are taking part in this year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Despite the brilliant sunshine, the crew of all the boats might not have been too happy with the almost sill conditions – there was a very light breeze yesterday morning at Marsamxett – which slowed down the start considerably.

In such conditions it already seems impossible for the Course Record to be broken this year. It remains in the hands of George David’s Rambler (USA) in a time of 47 hours 55 minutes and three seconds.

Yesterday’s spectacular start in brilliant sunshine over Marsamxett attracted several hundreds of spectators, not only at the Manoel Island based Royal Malta Yacht Club and its foreshore, but also at all the main vantage points in Valletta, as well as at Tigne Point, Sliema.

At 5.30pm, yesterday, Rosebud/Team DYT is just behind Moneypenny and Alegre some 20 miles south of Capo Passero at the southernmost tip of Sicily. These three are trucking along at a respectable 9-11 knots in less than 10 knots of westerly.

RAN was in fourth place on the water, with David Frank's Strait Dealer (MLT) the first of the local boats at the head of the bulk of the fleet approximately 10 miles behind the front-runners.

Spirit of Ad Hoc also remains in the leading part of the chasing peloton. Another yacht to look out for is the Austrian yacht Sarah Key which arrived in Malta late yesterday morning. While skipper Aegyd Peng completed the paperwork ashore his crew provisioned the boat. They made the start with minutes to spare.

The Croatian Geisha lies in last place on the water, but having started much almost an hour and quarter behind her class compatriots she could be excused this. In the multihull division, Silver Chiller (GER) and High Q1 (GER) are neck and neck.

The wind was predicted to go very light this evening and that will present a new set of problems to the crews as they try to work their way up the eastern seaboard of Sicily – the question taxing the navigators and strategists right now is whether to set up to stay inshore or to go offshore.