Seasoned skippers back in support fleet

Rockline had only been on the water one year when it became the sole yacht to provide escort to two Maltese sailors facing the daring crossing from Sicily to Malta on a windsurfer.

Two years later, in 1984, the same 30-footer Drago design was again in the windsurf crossing support fleet accompanying Jean Paul Fleri Soler, the eventual winner of the first Pozzallo Windsurf Race.

On that occasion Fleri Soler flashed home in a record time of 5:56.35.

In 1988, Fleri Soler was again winner of the same windsurf challenge with Rockline again as escort vessel.

Rockline has now been at sea for 23 years. New technology helped to introduce faster and more modern boats. However, her ever-present standing on the Pozzallo race is a feat which the owner, Philip Attard, intends to maintain.

He feels that the Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After is a special occasion even for Rockline.

In fact, the boat was the first to enrol to form part of this special edition's support fleet.

Rockline, still in excellent shape, is now equipped with two 200HP engines which gives her a steady 38 knots speed. This would definitely do for her to keep up with the race flotilla.

Besides Attard's Rockline, five other veterans of the Pozzallo race support fleet have also confirmed their presence for September's event.

These are Victor Calleja, who will skipper Princess Serena, Anthony Demajo with Cloud IX, Joseph Bugeja with Surf Queen, Mark Debono with Aviva and Peter Muscat Scerri whose 55-footer Onir will be the headquarters vessel.

Two of the mentioned skippers, besides Attard, have also escorted winning competitors. In 1989 Maid of Arundel, skippered by Demajo, escorted New Zealander Bruce Kendall to victory.

Prior to his participation and triumph in the sixth Pozzallo race, Kendall had attained a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

A year later the winner was Marko Steinlein, of Germany. He was then escorted by Debono's Shaka.

The Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After is being held on the third week of September and is also going to be used as a platform to raise funds in aid of the Park of Friendship (Ir-Razzett Tal-Hbiberija).