The Rolex Middle Sea Race has again reached the record levels of last year as entries for the 28th edition, which sails off from Marsamxett Harbour on Saturday, now number 69.

After last year's record participation of 68 boats, the Royal Malta Yacht Club continued with their intense promotion of the Mediterranean classic regatta and the hard work seems to be paying off.

"It's indeed a great achievement for the Royal Malta Yacht Club to have attracted another record fleet," Commodore Georges Bonello DuPuis told journalists during a conference call at Manoel Island yesterday.

"This week, we had 71 boats registered for the race. However, due to the heavy winds that hit the islands these past few days, two boats were unable to make it in time and dropped out.

"At the moment, we also have some boats stranded in Italy and Tunisia. But, hopefully, the weather conditions will improve and they will be able to reach Malta for the start of the race."

This year, the participating boats will not be based at the Manoel Island marina but have shifted to the more comfortable berthing site at the Grand Harbour Marina, Cottonera.

"We think this year the boats will be OK but next year we want to host them at our own club's marina in Manoel Island," Bonello DuPuis said.

"In the coming days, we will be filing permit applications at MEPA so that works on the new site will start as soon as we get the go-ahead from the authorities.

"Agreement has been reached with all parties and now we are just waiting the final rubberstamp to proceed with our project."

Last year, Morning Glory were the winners of the coveted Middle Sea Race Trophy after finishing first on corrected time. This year, the German boat owners will not be here to defend their title but there are some other eye-catching names in the list of entries.

The hot-favourite for line honours should be Rambler, of the US. The 90-foot Maxi, previously known as Alfa Romeo, is now owned by American George David who is eyeing a tilt at Bob McNeill's Zephyrus IV course record of 64 hours 49 minutes and 57 seconds set in 2000.

The Rambler syndicate, in fact, is using the MSR as an opportunity to finalise its crew list for next year's Volvo Ocean Race.

Should Rambler fail in its record bid, Titan XII, also of the US, will be there to pick up the pieces.

Owned by Tom and Dottie Hill, this 76-foot red flyer has already proved its pedigree in offshore racing by lopping 12 hours off the 811-nautical mile Montego Bay race record, coincidently, previously held by McNeil with Zephyrus V.

Australia's Loki are touted among the front-runners to win the MSR trophy given their high performance in light-wind races such as the Middle Sea Race.

Malta will be represented by a fleet of 13 boats which includes previous winner Strait Dealer and Artie, second overall last year.

The RMYC Commodore said that although the race is yet to start, preparations are already underway for the 2008 race which marks the 40th anniversary of the Middle Sea Race.

"To make that special occasion, the RMYC have already secured the return of the first boat which won line honours in the first edition way back in 1968, Stormvogel," Bonello Du Puis said.

"It will be a great reunion for us to have Stormvogel back in the race. There are other surprises in store but these will be announced later on."

Germany's Stormvogel was the first boat home in 1968. The trophy winner in that very first Middle Sea Race was John Ripard's Josian.

Coastal races

Between today and tomorrow some of the participants of the Middle Sea Race will be competing in coastal races around Gozo and Comino for the Malta Rolex Cup.

The races will be an ideal platform for most of the crews to fine-tune their boats ahead of Saturday's start.

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