At 10:50 local time yesterday, the Saluting Battery, high up in the Maltese capital of Valetta, signaled the start of the 33rd Rolex Middle Sea Race. Thousands of spectators crowded the medieval bastions to watch the start of the race.

A record entry of 83 yachts from 19 different countries started the 606-mile race. Bright sunshine and a brisk south easterly breeze of 12 knots carried the yachts out of Grand Harbour without any major incidents. For some it will be five days and nights before they complete the course and return to Malta.

Five hours into the race, Jonas Diamantino’s ILC40 Comanche Raider II Gasanmamo has made a bold move and leads the Maltese yachts competing in The Rolex Middle Sea Race. Comanche Raider II Gasanmamo has taken up the most westerly position of all the Maltese yachts but if the wind turns to the north as expected, the team may find it difficult to lay Capo Passero, Sicily.

Artie RTFX co-skippered by Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard is going well, the all Maltese crew and reigning Rolex Middle Sea Race champion is nearly a mile ahead of Aaron Gatt Floridia’s Otra Vez. Both yachts are extremely well sailed and identical J/122 hulls but Artie RTFX has the upper hand in the early part of the race.

Race verteran, Jonathan Gambin skipper of Dufour 45, DU4 and David Anastasi’s J/133 Oiltanking Juno have both taken up an easterly position on the course. Arthur Podesta’s First 45, Elusive 2 is struggling for speed for the time being and Kevin Dingli’s Beneteau 411, Fekruna started the race prematurely and was called back to restart the race in Grand Harbour, causing Fekruna to fall behind the competition.

The Maltese yachts should reach the Sicilian coast by dusk but tonight the wind is due to fade. Keeping the boat going in extremely light winds is very difficult at night. Sailors watch for signs of wind on the water but at night this can become close to impossible.