Battle lines drawn up

Record fleet to sail this year's Rolex Middle Sea Race

Five months ago this year's Rolex Middle Sea Race entry list stood at just over 20 and a record-breaking run looked at risk of ending. With three weeks to go, the entry list stands at 66, eight more than last year's chart-topping 58. The fleet comprises some of the biggest and fastest racing monohulls on the planet, crewed by America's Cup stars and round the world race winners, and, with no fewer than 18 nationalities represented the Rolex Middle Sea Race has never looked stronger.

At the top end of the scale, three super-maxis have entered. Neville Crichton's blisteringly fast Alfa Romeo (NZL) - line honours winner at the Giraglia Rolex Cup earlier this year - and Hasso Plattner's Transpac record holder Morning Glory (GER) have just finished first and second at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The most recent super maxi entry is Thuraya -Maximus , the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge 2005 handicap winner, chartered for this race by the same group of Italians that raced Steinlager II around the course in 2005. One significant difference for the team led by Filippo Molinari and Damiano Lipani is the participation of Paul Cayard - the winner of the Whitbread, an America's Cup finalist, Olympian and multi-world champion. Add to this high octane blend Mike Sanderson, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race 05/06 with the VO70 affectionately known as 'Black Betty' ( ABN AMRO One - NED) and the race really is turning back the clock to the 1970s when all the big names in yachting took tilts at one of most challenging race tracks in offshore sailing.

Last year's overall and line honours winner, Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II (ITA), is returning to the scene of her trophy clean-up, though this year first across the line would appear out of reach. Two more conventional keeled maxis, Damiani Our Dream (ITA) and Steinlager II (ITA); the Swan 601s, Spirit of Jethou (GBR) and Moneypenny (USA) - recent winner at the Rolex Swan Cup -, along with the Volvo 60 AAG Big One (CRO), close out the big boat category.

At the other end, the smallest competitor thus far registered is the doublehanded entry Slingshot , the 10.5m J/105 crewed by Shaun Murphy from the UK and Ric Searle, who competed in the race last year on the Maltese X-40, XL . Murphy is a relative beginner in the sport: "I started sailing six years ago, and only took up racing when I bought Slingshot in 2003." In that short time he has acquired some considerable experience, "I did the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2004 on a fully-crewed race boat and followed this up with going doublehanded in the 2005 Rolex Fastnet where we finished 4th in class. If I can complete this one, it will give me the three classic Rolex yacht races in three years." Do not bet against him doing well either. Murphy and his Slingshot have just won RORC Boat of the Year for outstanding racing achievement, cleaning up in a number of other RORC series prize categories, including the Jazz Trophy for IRC Overall.

An increase in safety standards following this year's changes to the Offshore Special Regulations for Category 2 races has placed additional burdens on the crews and their preparations, though none consider that raising the experience and skill levels amongst the crews is a bad thing. It is only two years ago that, in an otherwise light wind race, part of the fleet was hit by a squall that caused Vasco Vascotto on Damiani Our Dream to comment, "I started this regatta aged 35 and now I feel like I am 62" and more seriously tossed America's Cup grinder John Macbeth, one of the beefiest guys on the old Alfa Romeo , overboard like a rag doll. Fortunately, MacBeth was safely recovered.

As expected the Italians and Maltese are out in force and will threaten the handicap win having taken the Middle Sea Race Trophy three times apiece in the past 10 years. This year the Italians have the distinction of the oldest yacht in the fleet, the Sangermani-built Samurai , launched in 1962 and currently owned by Luigi Pavese. A regular winner on the classic circuit, with victories at Cannes, Antibes and Monaco, she will present a striking contrast to the carbon fibre racers at the front of the fleet. The Italians may also claim to have two of the newest boats in the fleet; the Starkel 60 Grande Orazio and the A40 Aquaranta , both launched this year. Also new in 2006, are the Vismara 46 Bella Donna (FRA) and Rusal Synergy (RUS). Rusal Synergy is hoping to be the first TP52 to take on the course and will wish for better luck than the TP 52 Patches , which was withdrawn at the eleventh hour in 2005 following the discovery of structutral problems surrounding her keel.

Of the Maltese yachts entered, David Frank's Strait Dealer , which won in 2001 when skippered by Cristian Ripard, has the 2002 race winner John Ripard Jnr on board looking to repeat his cousin's success. Meanwhile, Alfred Manduca will be participating in his tenth race, on board his Beneteau 47.7 Allegra . While he feels the opposition is getting tougher each year, he remains excited by the prospect: "I'm really looking forward to it. We have more safety regulations to comply with than before and the competition is harder with newer and better yachts, but the race is really a wonderful, scenic course. What could be better, three or four days at sea with family and friends, the possibility of volcanoes erupting and so much else one doesn't normally see."

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006 starts from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta, on Saturday 21 October 2006. The Malta Rolex Cup, a two-race inshore series on the 17 and 18 October, will precede the main race.

Entries close on 14 October. The final prize giving is at noon on 28 October.

Zephyrus IV established the current Course Record of 64 hours 49 minutes and 57 seconds in 2000.