The fleet of participants in the year's BOV Phoenician Experience sets off from Marsamxett Harbour at 5 a.m. today to what seems to be a slow crossing to Lampedusa, the first leg of the 300km Malta-Lampedusa-El Kantaoui Rally.

While the powerboats are expected to cover the Malta-Lampedusa 99km distance in approximately five hours there will be some discrepancy as to the sailing boats' performance. The modern and fast racers will possibly arrive at the Italian island in 13 hours with the heavy schooners taking even 18 hours.

However, this rally, now in its sixth edition, has established itself as a pleasant appointment where the family holiday spirit is given more importance than the competitive sailing aspect.

After spending the night in Lampedusa, the fleet will set sail to El Kantaoui at noon tomorrow where they are expected to reach the Tunisian destination at around four in the afternoon on Sunday.

The BOV Phoenician Experience is part of a programme of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Malta.

Besides BOV, as title sponsors, the event has the support of the Tunisian National Tourist Office and Tunisian airline Sevenair.