The race is on
Unstable weather expected
This weekend the weather over the Malta-Sicily channel is expected to be unstable with the possibility of severe thunderstorms. Yet, the appointment is being adhered to - the '20 Years After' of the Pozzallo Race is on.
This decision was taken yesterday afternoon at the final skippers' briefing at the Grand Harbour Marina in Vittoriosa where the yachts involved in the event assembled near a pontoon, specially made available to the race organisers by the Marina management.
There was a last-minute replacement in the support fleet with the withdraw of one of the escort yachts.
The four windsurfers will now line up as follows - Peter Bonello escorted by 'Rockline" (skipper P. Attard), Paul Ellul by 'Cloud IX' (A. Demajo), Gabor Vagi by 'Aviva' (M. Debono) and Andrew Wilson by 'Vincinne' (Tony Montebello).
The rest of the fleet includes 55-footer 'Onir' (P. Muscat Scerri) which will be the event's headquarter vessel while "Mavana II' (P. Attard Jr.) will be Medical & Stand-Up boat. 'Madonna Della Vittoria' (E. Cachia) is the transportation vessel.
The 93km race is scheduled to start this morning at 9 off Tignè Point and ends outside Pozzallo harbour, the same landmarks used in the event's 10-year span between 1984 and 1994.
The record time of the race is 5:56.35, established in the 1984 edition by Jean Paul Fleri Soler.
Today's weather forecast predicts a North-West Force 4-5 in open sea. However, the overall picture is expected to change drastically in the afternoon where a potential for severe thunderstorms with strong gusty winds are possible.
As already announced, the Pozzallo Race is being used as a platform to help generate funds towards Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija.
One can contribute towards this cause by sending an SMS on one of the following numbers:
Lm1 - 50617513; Lm2 - 50618027; Lm3 - 50618844.
The Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After is being sponsored by the Bank of Valletta, Globalair Travel, S&D Yachts Ltd, the Casinò di Venezia, and H2 Only.