J Contenders In Rolex Middle Sea Race

(Malta)- Flying into Malta it’s hard not to be struck by the landscape- the buildings all a blinding beige in the hot sun, the landscape fairly arid and dry. It’s more reminiscent of the Northern African coast, which is only 155 nautical miles west. The island archipelago is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean situated, as it is, midway between Sicily and the coast of Tunisia. The setting is stunning enough that Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

The 31st edition of the 606-nautical mile Rolex Middle Sea Race begins Saturday, 23 October from Grand Harbour. The race is organized and hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club.  This year’s fleet is more diverse than in any years past, with numerous entries from throughout Europe, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Many of the fleet is moored in Camper & Nicholson’s Grand Harbour Marina and dockside there today there was a flurry of activity with crews effecting repairs or otherwise prepping for Saturday’s offshore race.  Along the quay, there were country flags on the back of boats from Spain, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, the UK and United States, as well as a local fleet of competitors from Malta. One would think the Maltese might have an edge – local knowledge of the area, perhaps – and in that group one of the ringers may well be JARU, a J/133 co-skippered by John Ripard Jr. and his brother-in-law, Andrew Calascione. The close relations don’t stop there, as half the crew are composed of their children, with a few close friends from the UK there to round out the crew.

Sailing onboard, as helmsman and watch leader, is 23-year old, Sebastian Ripard. This youngest of the Ripard generation is taking time out from his, and team mate Benji Borg’s, campaign in the 49er class for the 2012/2016 Olympics. This 600+ mile race requires switching gears from "around the cans". Asked what he likes about this, his eighth, race, Sebastian said, "It’s a beautiful race. I mean one of the marks is a volcano, which is often erupting! There’s always a bit of everything in this race, tactically there are a lot of different points where the race compresses, so there’s a lot of tricky areas: the Straits (of Messina), Stromboli, by Favignana, which make it challenging throughout. There are a lot of variables that keep on changing. And I quite enjoy the mental demands of an offshore race; it’s more of an adventure. In his first go round in 2002, he racked up an overall win on the J/109 JAMMIN with – same as this year – his father and uncle. He followed that with a second place in the J/109 ARTIE with Lee Sartariano.

The J-Boat has a good track record for the race: a J/133 won its’ class and placed second overall in the 2008 Rolex Middle Sea Race. The 43-footer was Sailing World magazines' "Boat of the Year" award when it was launched in 2003 and the design has proven itself for performance cruising and offshore racing.  Sailing on the latest ARTIE, a J/122, will be other Royal Malta YC members and even more Ripard family members aboard- Lee Satariano & Christian Ripard.  Christian has also won the MSR on board a number of other J's in the past, continuing the tradition of the Ripard family as they have for generations on the island republic.  Finally, giving the two "Ripard-sailed" boats a run for their money will be the J/133 JUNO sailed by Sonke Stein.  Story from Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo.  For more Rolex Middle Sea Race sailing information.