Malta battered by winds

Day one of Rolex Middle Sea warm-up races is canned

With a Force 6-7 Gregale (described as 'moderate winds' on the local weather websites) blowing through the islands overnight and showing no signs of abating during the day, the Royal Malta Yacht Club was forced to cancel the first of two coastal races scheduled as warm ups for the main event - the Rolex Middle Sea Race that starts this Saturday at 1100.

The depression situated to the south of the island, over the Gulf of Sirte that lies between Malta and Libya, is almost stationary and the strong easterly wind being generated is forecast to continue until tomorrow raising the possibility that the second coastal race could also be cancelled. Better news is that on Wednesday evening the wind should start to decrease, at least to a Force 5 or 6, and back to a more northeasterly airflow. If the decrease continues, it may allow some of the 20 or so yachts currently stuck in and around Sicily to make the passage to down to Malta in time for the start.

For some though, getting the yacht to Malta is not the problem. "I had a call last night from Marcus Mattis the skipper of Guts 'n' Glory, the German DK 46, to tell me that he had missed his flight to Malta. This he was not too bothered about because the boat is already here and he was sure he could get another flight today," explained Commodore George Bonello DuPuis. "More seriously, the racing sails are stuck in a van in Sicily because the ferries are unable to run."

Marcus Mattis did arrive today and took up the story, "changing flights was not too difficult, but getting the gear here is proving harder. We are not panicing just yet, but I have spent most of yesterday and today on the phone trying to find alternative means of making sure the stuff gets here." Guts 'n' Glory took part in the Rolex Fastnet in August and like a lot of the fleet retired early to Plymouth in the face of the predicted rough weather. Disappointing news is that owner Christopher Wuttke will not be on board for this race having suffered a broken arm. "Although he has done his best to get fit in time, he had to make the hard decision yesterday not to come," commented Mattis, "but he still wants us to go." Assuming the sails get here.

One German yacht that is here and has completed its registration formalities is the Marten 49 Vineta owned by Felix Scheder-Biechin, a member of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in Hamburg. Scheder-Biechin is an extremely experienced offshore and ocean racer who laughs that nowadays he is slowing down a little bit, "I have wanted to participate in the Rolex Middle Sea Race for a long time, but have never managed it. I've done the Buenos Aires-Rio, two or three transatlantics and the Hong Kong Challenge round the world race. So quite a number of thousand miles," he commented. "In 2004, when Vineta was brand new we participated in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart. Unfortunately we had water ingress in the forepeak. Three or four tonnes of water in a boat that weighs ten tonnes is a lot, so we had to abandon the race."

Being a good friend of international juror and President of the RMYC, John Ripard, has ensured the Rolex Middle Sea Race has remained in Scheder-Biechin's conscious. This is his first time embarking on the 607nautical-mile race and clearly he is very happy to be here. Many of Vineta's crew has been recruited through the NRV youth programme, which Scheder-Biechin was in charge of for some ten years, "so a lot of the crew are younger than me," he laughs. Asked about the route, he enthuses that "the course is very interesting, particular passing through the Messina Straits. We have done some cruising over by Trapani and then near Stromboli in the last month, and the Aeolian Islands are very, very picturesque. This was a gap in my yachting life that I have to fill in now." Of Malta and the RMYC, Scheder-Biechin is equally enthusiastic, "I must say it is fantastic sitting here overlooking the start line. The organisation seems to be very good too."

Another owner taken by the charms of Malta and the RMYC's unique club house located within the walls of the 18th century French built Fort Manoel and looking out towards the fortified city of Valletta, is Briton Steven Thorpe. Thorpe is back for a second time with his J/125 Wings of the Wind. "The race has always been one of those must-do's. We loved it last year. It's a fantastic race," Thorpe replies when asked why he is here again. "The Maltese just love a party - before the race there seems to be something every night and then afterwards too. Its easy to feel very welcome," he continues. Four of the same crew are back with him and all are looking forward to reacquainting themselves with Stromboli despite spending a day and a half looking at it during last year's race, when a big hole in the wind fixed itself over the volcanic island to the frustration of the competing crews, "it's just magnificent, just awesome to see it glowing red at night. We all used up the spare space on all our cameras just clicking away trying to get the perfect picture. Really though, the whole race is beautiful."



As for the yacht club and its location on Manoel Island, Thorpe (above) is even more enthusiastic than Sheder-Biechin, " to me it's the best yacht club in the world - you just have to look at it. And they organize things so well, particularly the parties. So I've come out a couple of days earlier than the crew this year just to get things organized!" he laughs. Thorpe is hoping for plenty of wind on the beam to get Wings of the Wind really flying, but whatever the conditions he is looking forward to renewing his battle with the other J/125 in the race - the Maltese yacht Strait Dealer owned by David Franks and overall winner in 2001. Thorpe is also wondering if he might have the youngest crewmember on board this year. Max Hunter, at 15 years of age, is sailing in his first 600-mile offshore race and with his father Duncan.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2007 starts from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta, on Saturday 20 October 2007.