Danilo Salsi's DSK PIONEER INVESTMENTS. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
by Giles Pearman
The 30th Rolex Middle Sea Race is far from over with only eight yachts finished, thirty-nine yachts still on the course and twenty-three retired. DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) were the last yacht to finish, arriving at 3 o'clock this morning after enduring a slow passage from Lampedusa to Malta. Not as slow as the rest of the fleet though.
Line honours winner ICAP LEOPARD. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
The forecast weather may not have materialised as well as hoped by ICAP Leopard (GBR), depriving her of a record, but it is developing with a vengeance for those still at sea. The strong northwesterlies that powered the leaders to Pantelleria and progressively lightened towards the Maltese archipelago have now completely dissolved. The wind has softened dramatically and, as predicted, started swinging to the southeast, changing a downwind leg into an upwind leg. Just what you do not need on a small boat entering your fourth day of racing.
Karl Kwok's BEAU GESTE. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
The next boats expected to finish are Nikata (GBR), Nadejda (RUS) and Calipso 4 (ITA), by no means imminently. Currently, the three are en route from Lampedusa just to the south east of isolated island of Linosa. After these you have to look north of the Lampedusa for the next group of yachts, which includes first Maltese yacht on the water, David Frank's Strait Dealer (MLT).
COMANCHE RAIDER II GASAN MAMO Owner/Skipper: Jonas Diamantino. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
Then one is back at Pantelleria, which the frontrunners passed over twenty-four hours ago. Elusive II Medbank (MLT) has just rounded the island and fired off a quick report, "We're up two fish but one spinnaker, two halyards, and one sheet down, as well as 2-metres short on our spinnaker pole. Despite all that we're still at it! We've managed to jury rig repair our broken pole to be able to fly a chute. Last night was frustrating as the wind died and changed direction. We went from a medium kite to a light, to a code zero, to the wind seeker and finally to the light no1 in a short matter of time, but finally we settled into the light southerly beat. Eggs and Bacon this morning helped keep our morale up, as we were surrounded by about 300 dolphins close to Pantelleria."
BOV KERISMA Owner/Skipper: Sonke Stein. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
Further back the last two yachts, the double-handers Cymba (ITA) and Cambo III (ESP), continue to duke it out in their own private battle. Expected to round Capo San Vito this morning, they still have half the course to complete.
Highlight from the 30th Rolex Middle Sea Race. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
Snug in port, Andy Soriano's Alegre (GBR) is looking more secure by the hour in first place overall.
DSK PIONEER INVESTMENTS. Image copyright Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.
Rolex Middle Sea Race
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