How it all began way back in ’68

A festive mood grips the Royal Malta Yacht Club every year during the Rolex Middle Sea Race week as thousands throng the shores of Marsamxett to witness the five spectacular starts that this race provides.

As soon as each gun sounds the start of each race, the fleet generates a tremendous wash that sweeps into the preceding starting fleet, rendering the narrow harbour into spectacular activity that mesmerises both the crowds on the surrounding bastions and also those on water crafts.

Difficult and unpredictable, the Mediterranean weather conditions can make the Middle Sea Race a top challenge even for world experienced sailors.

It all started in 1968 with just eight boats trying their first luck in a clockwise race course.

The Ripard family lifted their first ever MSR Trophy out of the five that they won so far with both John and cousin Chris winning it twice and junior JonJon registering the fifth win.

Historywise, it all began with Jimmy White, co-founder of the Middle Sea Race, who at the time was living in Malta. He used to sail his boat Sandette in many local events which were not long distance offshore races.

His most regular sailing companion was Allan Green who, at the time, was working in Malta for the Royal Navy. They often discussed the possibility of a long race from Malta and finally came up with the plan for the Middle Sea Race.

A small sketch was made by Green and pinned up over Sandette’s chart table. They had in mind a winter race of over 600 miles to compare with the British Fastnet in which White had sailed on many occasions.

A great deal of thought was given to the course direction in which it should be sailed and it was finally decided that the race should be run clockwise.

They contended that the worst wind in Malta is a severe Gregale.

If such wind should blow at the start, the clockwise direction would mean that apart from the initial difficulty of beating out of Marsamxett, competitors would have the wind free for the first leg to Lampedusa, whereas if sailed anti-clockwise there would be a very hard beat to Sicily and they feared early retirements might be the result.

Should there be a Gregale at the end of the race, the clockwise course would provide a run to the finish whereas the anti-clockwise course would give a hard beat from Lampedusa to Malta and should be dismasting or other serious trouble with a yacht. In such case, North Africa would be a lee shore lacking in rescue facilities.

Apart from these dangers, they also considered that from the historical point of view it would be more interesting for crews to sail down from Stromboli, through the Straits of Messina in the path of Ulysses.

Sandette will always be remembered by all sailing enthusiasts for the great contribution she gave to the commencement of the Middle Sea Race. All this was still a dream race in 1967.

Encouraged by Admiral Bernotti, of the Italian Navy, Green was delegated by RMYC to be responsible for the organisation of the first race in 1968.

From that day in December, there were only eight starters in which both Stella Polare, of Admiral Bernotti, and Stormvogel, from Holland at the time owned by Mr Bruynzeel, had the honour to be the hot boats of the day. Yet it was the Maltese boat Josian, of John Ripard, who got the first ever title of the Middle Sea Race.

Incidentally, this was the slowest race on record ever. Ironically enough since the course was changed to an anti-clockwise run, record participation has escalated in each and every edition especially in the last five years mainly due to the sponsorship of Rolex.

This time, participation is ten times over with interest surging to 80 yachts from 18 countries.

Last year, maxi winner Rambler recorded the fastest time ever of 47 hours 55 mins 5 secs. Such rare wind conditions, at times outrageous but incredibly favourable to fast, steady sailing almost all the way, are most unlikely to happen again.

This is a unique gruelling race fit only for sailors with high-level of experience where sleep deprivation can take its toll and weather can suddenly turn into bumpy, short sharp swells on the nose.

It is the time for sound leadership and a very able crew, the essential requirements for success.