With 250 nm left to go at that point the winds were 12-15 knots and seas were typical for the region: short, sharp and steep for a close reaching boatspeed race against Moneypenny to the finish, during which Alegre (pictured below by Kurt Arrigo) pulled out more than enough time to win the big boat Division 1 on handicap from her similarly sized Mini-Maxi rivals.
Navigator Will Best was on his first Rolex Middle Sea Race and was clearly delighted to have won Line Honours modestly put it down to some lucky breaks. Owner and regular helm Andy Soriano was happy to be heading home with Alegre's maiden offshore Line Honours and a Rolex Chronometer. “We're thrilled, absolutely thrilled. It's a culmination of a lot of hard work, including a few people who aren't with us who contributed greatly to the team effort. It's a tribute to my son, who put the crew together. It is a cohesive group of both amateur and professional sailors. Beating some of the top sailors in the world is a credit to the boys who just kept fighting” commented Soriano.
This team ethos is reflected throughout the project: engineered by Team Alinghi members SDK, built by Newport yard NEB, and with a Hall Spars US rig and a sail inventory designed by Kevin George of North Sails UK, Alegre has developed at every event since her launch in May to become a leading contender in the Mini-Maxi fleet. She will spend the winter preparing for the Mini-Maxi circuit in the Med next year which promises to be some of the most competitive big boat racing anywhere in the world in 2009.
