#middlesearace – Two Irish Beneteau designs, Paddy and Dermot Cronin's First 40.7 Encore (IRL8407) and Tony Tennyson/Des Kelliher's First 44.7 Gallileo (IRL 1944) from the National Yacht Club are already entered for the 34th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, starting and finishing in Malta. The race is once again attracting yachts from all over the world to the Royal Malta Yacht Club writes Louay Habib. Less than two months before the start, yachts from 16 nations have already entered including Ireland. Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel,, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America are also slated.

"Since the online entry system opened in January, 62 yachts have entered, which is more than the same time last year. 2012 was a record entry of 82 yachts and the club is hoping to achieve at least that number." confirmed Godwin Zammit, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. "However, the satisfaction of our competitors is more important than their number. The Royal Malta Yacht Club is working tirelessly, making sure that our guests have a memorable visit to Malta."

Igor Simcic's powerful Canting Keel Maxi, Esimit Europa 2, will be back to defend last year's Line Honours win and will be hoping to be the first yacht to cross the line at the Royal Malta Yacht Club for an unprecedented fourth time in succession.

"The final challenge for the Esimit Sailing Team in 2013 sailing season is the Rolex Middle Sea Race." confirmed the European team's web site. "The race is recognized as one of the most picturesque races in the Mediterranean; the Strait of Messina, rounding the active volcano Stromboli, the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, with the finish in Malta's capital Valletta. Esimit Sailing Team crowned the 2012 sailing season with yet another brilliant success, and became only the second yacht in the history of the Rolex Middle Sea Race to take line honours three times in a row, for 2013 a new milestones can be set."

This year the entry for the Rolex Middle Sea Race already boasts a number of high profile performance yachts, including Alex Thompson's dazzling IMOCA 60, Hugo Boss and Andre Soriano's new head-turning British Mini Maxi, Alegre. Andres Soriano's previous yacht, also called Alegre, has won both Line Honours and the race overall.

Eight magnificent Swans are already entered, racing in a variety of classes, and also aspiring to win the prestigious Swan Challenge trophy, designed by Royal silversmith, Asprey. Once again, the Russian Sailing Federation is supporting the race and ten Russian yachts have already entered; the largest fleet from any single nation.

Andrew McIrvine, Admiral of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, will be competing with First 40, La Reponse. " I have only competed in the race once before but this will be the first time with my own boat." commented Andrew. "I am taking a break from work and will be cruising La Reponse in the Mediterranean before racing in the ARC to take part in the Caribbean season. Of all the Mediterranean races, the Rolex Middle Sea Race was top of my list. It is one of the most scenic offshore races anywhere in the world and also very challenging. This year, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship and taking part gives us a chance to secure second place in our class."

Malta has a seafaring tradition dating back hundreds of years and the Rolex Middle Sea Race is the most prestigious international sporting event in Malta. Winning the race, against world class international opposition, is every Maltese sailors dream. Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard's J/122, Artie RTFX finally won the race in 2011 and will be competing this year with an all Maltese crew. Lee Satariano describes how it feels to win the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

"It's a moment to enjoy - it is a dream come true. The fleet has grown bigger, the competition is tremendous. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a beautiful track. The race is one you can never forget -every year something challenges you to go back out and enjoy the race."

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

History

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

IN RECENT YEARS

In 2001,a new Committee was elected and injected new blood and ideas into the Middle Sea Race organising Committee.  Innovative marketing ideas were introduced and the search for a title sponsor was initiated. In 2002, Rolex SA came on board as the title sponsor. Since 2002, the event has witnessed a record number of entries every year and has also seen amazing growth in the quality of entries. Although bigger boats regularly participate with new tecnological inprovements such as code zeros, canting keels and forward canards, the Course Record remained unbeaten for seven years. One used to wonder when this will ever be broken – 64 hrs, 49 mins and 57 seconds was the time to beat...

In 2006, a record fleet of 68 yachts was on the start line, ranging from some of the largest and fastest racing monohulls on the planet, including Alfa Romeo, Morning Glory, ABN Amro 1 and Maximus, to some of the best sailed cruiser-racers around. The finish was a nailbiter, with Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory taking in pole position amongst the larger yachts, but having to wait two days until two of the smallest boats had arrived home before the victory could be confirmed. As it was, the double-handed crew of Shaun Murphy & Ric Searle on the J-105 Slingshot and the young crew on Lee Satariano's J-109 Artie came close, but not quite close enough finishing third and second overall respectively just over 2 hours outside the winner's time.

The record number of participants till 2006 stood at a staggering 68 entries.

In 2007 Massive storms bashed through the fleet on the northern side of Sicily. Tens of boats retired during the first night out and were forced to take shelter in various ports along the Eastern shore of Sicily.  Loki also lost their rudder and had to abondon her. We also saw George David on board Rambler set a new course record of 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

2008 saw a record number of entries. Seventy-eight boats started the race and was characterised by light winds in the beginning of the race and thunder storms during the second part of the race. Thierry Bouchard, on board Spirit of Ad Hoc won in a Beneteau 40.7. He also won the ORC division, claiming the Boccale del Mediterraneao Trophy.

The above information courtesy of Rolex Middle Sea Race