Record entry in the offing

Five months ago the entry list for this year's Rolex Middle Sea Race stood at just over 20... a record-breaking run of entries looked at risk of ending. But, with three weeks to go, the fleet suddenly shot to 66, eight more than last year's chart-topping 58. The list comprises some of the biggest and fastest racing monohulls on the planet, crewed by America's Cup stars and round-the-world race winners. With no fewer than 18 nationalities represented, the race has never looked stronger.

At the top end of the 2006 entry list are three super-maxis.

Neville Crichton's blisteringly fast Alfa Romeo (NZL) - line honours winner at the Giraglia Rolex Cup this year - and Hasso Plattner's Transpac record holder Morning Glory (GER) have just finished first and second at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

The most recent super maxi entry is Thuraya-Maximus, the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge 2005 handicap winner, chartered for this race by the same group of Italians that raced Steinlager II around the course in 2005.

One significant difference for the team, led by Filippo Molinari and Damiano Lipani, is the participation of Paul Cayard, an America's Cup finalist and multi-world champion.

Add to this high-octane blend Mike Sanderson, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06 with the VO70 affectionately known as 'Black Betty' (ABN Amro - NED), and the Middle Sea Race really is turning back the clock to the 1970s when all the big names in yachting took tilts at one of most challenging tracks in offshore sailing.

Last year's overall and line honours winner, Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II (ITA), is returning to the scene of her trophy clean-up, though this year first across the line would appear out of reach.

Two more conventional keeled maxis, Damiani Our Dream (ITA) and Steinlager II (ITA), Swan 601s Spirit of Jethou (GBR) and Moneypenny (USA) - recent winner at the Rolex Swan Cup - along with the Volvo 60 AAG Big One (CRO), close out the big boat category.

At the other end, the smallest competitor thus far registered is the double-handed entry Slingshot, the 10.5-metre J-105 crewed by Shaun Murphy and Ric Searle.

Murphy is a relative beginner in the sport.

"I started sailing six years ago, and only took up racing when I bought Slingshot in 2003," he said.

"I did the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2004 on a fully-crewed race boat and followed this up with going double-handed in the 2005 Rolex Fastnet where we finished fourth in class. If I can complete the MSR, it will give me three classic Rolex yacht races in three years."

An increase in safety standards following this year's changes to the Offshore Special Regulations for Category 2 races has placed additional burdens on crews, though none consider that raising the experience and skill levels is a bad thing.

It is only two years ago that, in an otherwise light wind race, part of the fleet was hit by a squall that caused Vasco Vascotto on Damiani Our Dream to comment 'I started this regatta aged 35 and now I feel like I am 62'. More seriously, the squall tossed America's Cup grinder John MacBeth, one of the beefiest guys on the old Alfa Romeo, overboard. MacBeth was safely recovered.

As expected, the Italians and Maltese are out in force and will threaten the handicap win having taken the MSR Trophy three times apiece in the past 10 years.

This year, the Italians have the distinction of the oldest yacht in the fleet, the Sangermani-built Samurai, launched in 1962 and currently owned by Luigi Pavese.

The Italians may also claim to have two of the newest boats in the fleet - the Starkel 60 Grande Orazio and the A40 Aquaranta, both launched this year. Also new in 2006 are the Vismara 46 Bella Donna (FRA) and Rusal Synergy (RUS).

Of the Maltese yachts entered, David Frank's Strait Dealer, which won in 2001 when skippered by Cristian Ripard, has the 2002 race winner John Ripard Jnr on board looking to repeat his cousin's success.

Meanwhile, Alfie Manduca will be participating in his 10th race, this time on his Beneteau 47.7 Allegra.

"I'm really looking forward to it. We have more safety regulations to comply with than before and the competition is harder with newer and better yachts, but the race is really a wonderful, scenic course," Manduca said.

"What could be better, three or four days at sea with family and friends, the possibility of volcanoes erupting and so much else one doesn't normally see."

The 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race starts from Marsamxett on October 21.

The Malta Rolex Cup, a two-race inshore series on October 17 and 18, will precede the main race. Entries close on October 14. The final prize-giving is at noon on October 28.

Zephyrus IV established the current course record of 64 hours 49 minutes and 57 seconds in 2000.