Rolex Middle Sea Race...

[comino]

This morning we watched 123 yachts glide gently out of Grand Harbour Malta in very light airs. It was an amazing sight and we cheered the Brit boats on from the bastions of Valletta. Being a temporary livaboard here sure has its moments.

 

[RobbieW]

& you can follow the race here ... http://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/tracker/#pt - the playback option is lots of fun

 

[capnsensible]

C'mon Seawolf!! We are watching!

 

[Pladdatoo]

This morning we watched 123 yachts glide gently out of Grand Harbour Malta in very light airs. It was an amazing sight and we cheered the Brit boats on from the bastions of Valletta. Being a temporary livaboard here sure has its moments.

Just come across this and was reminded of when I was a lad sailing with my father. We followed the fleet out in very different weather - a force 8/9 and were knocked flat right under the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

Eek that must have been about 40 years ago and we we probably not even wearing life jackets!

 

[chuckr]

We were sailing the other way and our ais simply lite up and we almost had a heart attack with what was coming at us.

By the way is was not a great race as the front we went to Malta to avoid hit the fleet hard with about 1/2 the boats dropping out, one losing a rudder, another losing 1/2 their rudder, at least 2 demastings but on the good side no one got hurt and no boats sunk

 

[overstag]

It was a race to remember. 55 kts of wind over the deck and waves of at least 8 meters. Thats 25 foot ;-)

 

[comino]

Huge respect for all those out there on the water during the blow. We've just moved from Manoel Island Marina, where competitor Bristolian (28.2 metre CBN92) is mored close by, over to Msida Marina on the same pontoon as Arite, the race winner (12.19 metre J122). The contrast in boats is unbelievable. The race experience would have been very different.