MSR developing into one of world's best - RMYC Commodore

The Rolex Middle Sea Race (MSR) is fast establishing itself as one of the top sailing regattas in the world.

This year's race attracted a record 44 entries, which included some of the finest racing boats in the sailing panorama.

UK's maxi sled Nokia, skippered by David Bedford, were yesterday confirmed as winners of this year's 24th edition after finishing first overall on corrected time ahead of Italy's Squalo Bianco and the 66-foot US racer cruiser Zaraffa.

A beaming Georges Bonello Du Puis, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC), told The Sunday Times that the Rolex Middle Sea Race has bolstered its reputation over the past few years and is now ranked among the top sailing regattas in the world.

"This year we have reached unprecedented heights in all aspects," Bonello Du Puis said yesterday during the MSR prize-giving ceremony at Caraffa Palace in Vittoriosa.

"Besides attracting the largest number of entries, we succeeded in luring some of the world's best boats. Having on your starting list crews of the calibre of Alfa Romeo, the fastest boat in the world, and Nokia, winners of the Giraglia Cup and Fastnet race, speaks volumes of the prestige the MSR has gained in recent years.

"Certainly, our association with Rolex has helped in no small measure to raise the image of our race in the world sailing scene. This year's event only finished 24 hours earlier but we have already been overwhelmed by requests from several top teams who are interested in taking part next year."

UCA, a German maxi which has just triumphed in a top race in New York, has already confirmed its participation while most of the field of this year's race, including Alfa Romeo - MSR line honours winners - and Nokia, have also promised to be on the starting line at the Marsamxett Harbour next year.

The RMYC Commodore, who was yesterday presented with a Lm5,000 sponsorship cheque by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, said that the popularity of the MSR is likely to increase further over the next few years. He appealed to Government to lend more support to the sailing industry.

"The MSR is growing rapidly and if the number of participants does increase, we have to ensure that Malta is fully equipped to host these boats. We already have two top-quality marinas but I believe that if this positive trend in terms of MSR participation is maintained, the construction of a third should soon be on Government's agenda," he said.

The 24th Middle Sea Race was held in tricky weather conditions this year, a fact echoed by the main actors in this year's event.

Matt Cope, master on board of MSR winner Nokia, described the 607-mile regatta as one of the most challenging races ever faced by his team. "The conditions encountered during this race were simply unique. It's not easy to be competitive in this regatta as the weather conditions vary all the time. The MSR was an arduous test for our crew but they worked very hard and our efforts have been rewarded," Cope said.

For Nokia, success in the Middle Sea Race was made all the more sweeter by overcoming the challenge of Alfa Romeo, billed by many as the world's top racer.

"Beating Alfa Romeo is always special. They are a great team with some of the finest sailors in the world. We had beaten them already in the Giraglia Cup and the Fastnet race this season, but we still knew it was going to be difficult to finish ahead of them.

"They were the pre-race favourites but the efficiency of our crew proved differently," Cope remarked.

Toughest race

Alfred Manduca's Maltese Falcon II was first among the Maltese entries, finishing fourth overall.

For Manduca this year's race represented his sixth participation in the MSR since 1996 and he conceded that the unpredictable weather conditions made it the toughest of all.

"The gutsy winds were our major obstacle throughout the race. Our crew had to be on the alert throughout because the risk of damaging the boat was very high," Manduca said. "However, we did a fantastic job because it's not easy to finish so high in such a difficult course."

Arthur Podestà, on board of his Elusive, boasts of a unique record... he has taken part in all 24 editions of the race. This year he again made it to the finish line with a relatively young crew, mostly made up of members of his family.

"Sailing is simply my life and I can't see myself doing anything else in the future," he said.

"The MSR is a challenge that fills me with great enthusiasm. The level of competition has grown steadily every year. This edition was certainly the highest given the top quality boats that competed and all this bodes well for the future of sailing in Malta."