(Gzira, Malta)- A record entry of eighty-six yachts so far, from all
over the world, is expected on the start line of the Rolex Middle Sea
Race. With less than a month to go to the start the organising team at
the Royal Malta Yacht Club is making final preparations for the arrival
of several hundred visitors. Many of the competing yachts have already
arrived and are safely sheltered in Ta'Xbiex Marina and many more will
be arriving over the next few weeks.
The
history of the Maltese Islands is intertwined with that of the
Mediterranean Basin, with the major civilizations of the area having
moored on Malta due to commercial interests with merchant galleys, or
even in military operations with fully armed warships. From the times of
the ancient Phoenicians to Malta's role as home port for the Royal
Navy's Mediterranean fleet, Maltese ports have hosted a diverse range of
sea craft from various countries. Now that Malta is an independent
republic and a member of the European Union, its harbours are known best
to commercial ships, cruise liners, chartered and private yachts as
well as nautical aficionados. The coastline's craggy inlets and bays,
most of which wonderfully secluded and inaccessible from land, provide
the privilege of mooring for a swim or lunching on board in privacy.
The
locals know these waters well. Last year, Lee Satariano's all Maltese
team, racing J/122 ARTIE, pulled off a stunning victory to win the race
overall and Satariano is relishing this year's race: "The crew of
ARTIE-RTFX ARE all up for it again this year and hope to push the boat
to the limit. We have a great team on board who have been sailing
together for the past few years. It's ARTIE's 3rd Rolex Middle Sea Race
and we hope to make it third time lucky! The race can hold many twists
and turns right from the straits of Messina, the wind shadow round
Stromboli and the different elements around the course, all of this and
many more make it a spectacular and exciting race every year. We have
the boat and the crew to make it possible to win again, so we'll be up
there once again giving it our best shot. If you are coming to compete
for the first time, I can tell you that the atmosphere at the Royal
Malta Yacht is just so special, the whole set up is just marvelous,
great credit must go to the committee and staff for all the hard work
from months before and right through the race." With real-time
tracking, armchair sailors around the world can cheer on the local
Maltese crew on the J/122 ARTIE!
As
Lee and Christian know all too well, they will have their greatest
challenges coming from other members of the J/Team. Starting off with a
sistership sailed by passionate offshore sailors from Malta, the
J/122 OTRA VEZ sailed by Aaron and Edward Gatt sailed a
very strong race last year, even leading the race for awhile, but fell
into one of the famous holes north of Sicily before turning south.
Fellow Malteseans and friends from Hamburg, Germany is the J/133
OILTANKING JUNO sailed by owner Sonke Stein and skipper David Anastasi;
they, too, were winning last year's race with just 15 nm to go but got
tanked finishing in the light airs in the harbor! Finally, the "dark
horse" by far will be the J/111 J-STORM sailed by Massimo Colosimo from
Italy-- last year on their delivery they damaged the boat and sails so
never made the race. This time around they, too, like the J/122 and
J/133 will be looking for redemption and help from the capricious,
legendary sea-going Gods of Neptune, Odysseus and others who've plied
these waters for eons. Anyone know where the "Sirens" are singing
nowadays? For
more Rolex Middle Sea Race sailing information
