The Maltese pit assist

Fiona Galea Debono caught up with the first and only Maltese national to be participating in the America's Cup, the most prestigious regatta in the sailing world.

Chris Dougall, 34, is one of the 17 crew members of the Italian Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team. His role on board is that of runner, or pit assist, which means he "moves around a lot, getting good foresight on the tactics in play and what is happening".

The campaign is spread over three years, including 12 acts, or separate regattas, which result in an overall classification.

Mascalzone Latino Capitalia, which is up against another 11 boats, is ranking fourth after two years and 12 acts. The next step is the Louis Vuitton Cup, which will be held in April 2007, when the winner - the challenger - races against the current holder of the America's Cup, Alinghi.

It is a long, hard day for Mr Dougall, who has been a professional sailor for 14 years, and is now based in Valencia, with his family. Over the last nine months, he has just about snapped up one week off, he says, admitting exhaustion, but not lacking enthusiasm.

Apart from sailing all day every day, he has to undergo two hours of compulsory gym training at 7 a.m. - fitness being an important aspect of his job.

Standing 6"3' high, Mr Dougall is gigantic, but he admits to be "small" next to the rest of the crew.

Dedication is the name of the game. More than physical, it is a mental challenge to keep going, he maintains.

"I have probably wanted to pack everything up 1,000 times and return to what I was doing before - travelling the world as a freelance sailor, doing different regattas on various boats."

So what's the hardest part?

"Being with the same people all the time, doing the same thing everyday in the same boat... Everyone is stressed and under pressure, so you have to work hard for the team to gel, to have a happy environment and to stay focused."

Mr Dougall was approached by team skipper Vasco Vascotto when he was doing the TP52 regatta, the Kings Cup, in Mallorca.

"I had sailed with him before. I did not say yes immediately, but did a 10-day trial period during which they wanted to see me and I could see them. I was offered the contract after three days.

"The America's Cup is the biggest thing and it does not go much further for a professional sailor. I feel it is a major personal achievement."

So, when this is over, what's next?

Mr Dougall already has some plans up his sleeve, including a transatlantic regatta. The Volvo Ocean Race, which sails around the world and is the offshore equivalent of the America's Cup, is another "little goal I would like to tick off my list. I was pretty close to doing it before".

The Maltese side of Mr Dougall - and the fact that he is doing it for Malta - is foremost on his mind.

"The thought keeps me going when I want to quit. I think it is just the start for Malta and that lots of other Maltese can do it. The young sailors here are so talented. They may think it is impossible to achieve this, but I am the living proof that they can."

The only snag is that he feels he has received little acknowledgment from the local sailing and government authorities.

The government seems to be failing to exploit the potential of backing him, says the former vice-president of the Malta Sailing Federation, Paul Ellul, who maintains that Mr Dougall is "a free asset that the country should use for promotion. He is all we have got on the international sailing front and his role can serve to take Malta into the international sailing community," Mr Ellul says.