Around 90 boats – small and big – are expected to line up in Grand Harbour next Saturday for the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which is nowadays considered as a superb Mediterranean classic.

The boats hail from 16 nations, that is, Austria, Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, France, Monaco, Czech Republic, South Africa, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Gibraltar and, of course, Malta.

The race, now in its 33rd edition, has become known for its top class organisation. Some skippers even compare it with the Fastnet and Sydney to Hobart races.

Addressing a news conference yesterday at mid-day, Teddy Borg, from the Media Office, said that there should be a fantastic start on Saturday at Grand Harbour. There will be between four and five starts, commencing at 11am. The last one, for the big boats, will be at 11.40am.

RMYC Commodore Godwin Zammit, newly appointed recently, said the Middle Sea Race has evolved into a big event. “It involves a lot of organisation, but we are very hopeful of staging another successful event as were those held in the past. We augur a good and enjoyable race to all the participants, who will number around 1,000,” he added.

Peter Dimech, the race officer, said the Grand Harbour should offer a grand spectacle next Saturday. He added: “The Saluting Battery will once again be the base for the start line which will therefore be just outside Fort St Angelo. Having 90 boats is a big record which we are proud of, but entries will also be accepted till late on Friday. The record at present is of 78 participants and that was set in 2008,” he added.

Dimech also revealed that Esimit Europa 2, winner of Line Honours the past two years, is also attempting a record in a new challenge. The crew is sailing to Trieste to Malta. “They took part in the Barcolana race. Now they are sailing to Malta for participation in the Middle Sea Race. We are expecting the boat to arrive in Malta some time today. They left Trieste on Sunday but found little wind on the Adriatic Sea . It is a Passage Race from Trieste to Valletta and the boat’s German skipper Jochen Schumann is eager to be presented with the Medot Sailing Trophy. He has initiated this project with the help of Societa Velica di Barcola and Grignano as well as the Royal Malta Yacht Club.”

Dimech went on to say that the programme starts today with a Coastal Race which will take the participating boats from Marsamxett to Comino and back, starting at 10am.

The Middle Sea Race has a course distance of 606 nautical miles, non-stop, starting and finishing in Malta.

Among those taking part is Arthur Podesta, who is the only seaman who will have taken part in every one of the 33 editions after this year’s event. He said yesterday that the Middle Sea Race was always designed to become a Mediterranean Classic. He added: “It started in 1968 with only eight boats. The next year it increased by four, to 12. Then it went on to show an increase in participation almost every year.”

Podesta will be racing in his boat Elusive, which is one of nine Maltese boats registered to take part.

The other Maltese boats and their skippers are Artie-RTFX, Lee Satariano/Chris Ripard, Du 4, Jonathan Gambin, GasanMamo Comanche Raider II, Jonas Diamantino/Ramon Sant Hill, Fekruna, Kevin F. Dingli, Oiltanking Juno, David Anastasi, Otra Vez, Aaron Gatt Floridia/Edward Gatt Floridia, Windriven, Per Sahlberg and XP-Act, Josef Schultheis/Paolo Semeraro.

Among those attending yesterday’s news conference were some skippers. One of them, Barry Hurley, will be racing in Dinah, one of seven yachts racing Double Handed. He has sailed some 3,000 miles all the way from Ireland to be able to take part.

Other skippers were Filippo Ancelotti, Beppe Bisotto, Nick Jones, Lee Satariano of Artie, last year’s winners, as well as Jonas Diamantino and Ramon Sant Hill, of GasanMamo Comanche Raider II.

One of the smallest boats is the Russian entry Visconte (9.7 metres). It is skippered by Artem Brum.

Seven big boats will be taking part in this year’s race with Esimit Europa 2 again being the favourite to win Line Honours.

There will be the usual two divisions – Racing and Cruising – as well as two ratings – ORC and IRC. There will also be an Open division.

The course record is held by George David’s Rambler (USA). It was set at 47 hours 55 minutes and three seconds in 2007.