Atalanta II scoop major honours

With just nine boats finishing from a fleet of 58 starters, after a week of almost non-existent winds, the 2005 Rolex Middle Sea Race had one of the strangest results of an offshore race.

Last boat to arrive was David Franks' Strait Dealer, the only Maltese yacht to make it around the 608-mile course.

Franks's crew included British navigator Graham Sunderland and Mascalzone Latino crewman Chris Dougall.

There were so few finishers this year and none in the smaller class two, despite valiant efforts from several boats.

At yesterday's prize-giving at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Carlo Puri Negri's Farr 70 Atalanta II managed a clean sweep of the silverware.

Puri Negri won seven major trophies - the RLR Trophy for line honours, the Malta Tourism Authority Trophy for first foreign boat home, the FIV Trophy for first Italian yacht , a Rolex steel Submariner for first place in IRC Class 1A, the first place trophy for IMS/ORC Class A, the Boccale Del Mediterraneo Trophy for IMS Overall and the MSR Trophy for being the overall winner.

"I have never seen so many trophies before," said Puri Negri. "We are happy because the MSR is an important and glorious race."

In winning the race, Puri Negri and the Atalanta II crew have also won the Mediterranean Champi-onship of Offshore Racing - a new series of four events including the Rolex Middle Sea Race and the Giraglia Rolex Cup.

Franks and Strait Dealer won the Malta Maritime Trophy for being the first Maltese boat across the line and the Starboard Trophy for being first Maltese boat overall in IRC. The Youth Cup for the youngest participating crewmember was won by 13-year old Luisa Manduca, who sailed on father Alfred's Allegra.

"We had a record number of entries and you try and make the best of it, but arguably we have had the worst result with most of the fleet retiring," summarized Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore Georges Bonello DuPuis.

"I am happy that at least Strait Dealer finished, so Malta was mentioned in the prize-giving ceremony.

"As to next year, we're looking for a new weather site... god.com!"