| Tuesday 10:00 CEST update |
| By Rolex Media Team. |
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Photos
By
Kurt Arrigo
for Rolex, Bruno Cocozza and Carlo Borlenghi.
Edited by Peter Andrews. |
October 20, 2009. |
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| 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 most recent 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. |
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Onboard Danilo Salsi's DSK, October 17, 2009, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2009.
Photo © Bruno Cocozza / www.carloborlenghi.com.
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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 disappeared. The wind has softened dramatically and as predicted, started swinging to the southeast. This changes what was a downwind leg into an upwind leg. On a small boat entering your fourth day of racing, this is the last thing you would need. |
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Grant Gordon and Klaus Diederichs' Swan 45, Fever, at Capo San Vito, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race
2009.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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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). Then another group is back at Pantelleria, where the frontrunners passed just over twenty-four hours ago. |
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David Franks' J125, Strait Dealer, sailing off Capo San Vito, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2009.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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Elusive II Medbank (MLT) has just rounded the island, and have just provided a quick report of their situation.
"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 number 1 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." |
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Sonke Stein's Ker 11.3, Bov Kerisma, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race
2009.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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Further back the last two yachts, the double-handers Cymba (ITA) and Cambo III (ESP), continue to dule it out in their own private battle. Expected to round Capo San Vito this morning, they still have half the course to complete.
Snug in port, Andy Soriano’s Alegre (GBR) is looking more secure by the hour in first place overall. A more detailed report will be issued this afternoon.
For more information about the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2009 including the entry list, position reports and results please visit www.rolexmiddlesearace.com. |
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| Outimage, Rolex and Carlo Borlenghi © 2009 |
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