Enigma's Season

Dunstone's Sailing Manager Matt Cowpe sums up their successful year

Charles Dunstone’s yacht Enigma has won the Rolex Middle Sea Race completing a remarkable racing season for the Carphone Warehouse boss.

Racing under her NOKIA Connecting People branding, Dunstone’s Enigma finished the Rolex Middle Middle Sea Race in Malta on Tuesday afternoon but it was not until 1123 local time Thursday that time ran out for the chasing pack to improve on his time.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is renowned for the varied and challenging conditions the competitors must over come as they circumnavigate Sicily and her surrounding Islands. Despite winning the Fastnet by what in sailing terms was a country mile, Dunstone further strengthened his already star studded crew, to meet the unique challenges of the Middle Sea course - a move that has again reaped rewards for the ever astute Dunstone.

12 months ago, Dunstone first tasted ‘big boat racing’ in the Mediterranean, when he competed at La Nioulargue regatta in St Tropez aboard his Swan 86 Hamilton. He enjoyed the event so much that he tasked his Sailing Manager, Matt Cowpe, to find him a yacht to compete on the 2003 Med circuit, but importantly for the intensely competitive Dunstone - one that would win in the light and fickle conditions of the Mediterranean.

In January, Dunstone bought a 2 year old race boat in San Diego, California which had no real track record but one which was considered by his team to have ‘great pedigree’. Dunstone is now able to look back on the season and a scorecard of two firsts and a second in the seasons three big races, the Rolex Giraglia, Rolex Fastnet and now the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

‘It’s a fantastic achievement and I am obviously delighted. To have won the 2 biggest races in this year’s calendar is a real tribute to the team who have worked hard both to get the boat to Europe and competitive for the events we had targeted.’ remarked Dunstone after his yacht completed the 600 mile Rolex Middle Sea course yesterday.

With 3 impressive results against arguably the best boats racing in Europe at present, Enigma must now be a strong contender for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s ‘Offshore Yacht of the Year’ Award

Looking ahead to 2004 Dunstone is looking to be part of a 3 boat British team competing for the Offshore Team World Championship and is likely to return to Malta to defend their Rolex Middle Sea Race title.