Winds of opportunity

Yesterday was a day of contrasting fortunes... opportunities missed and opportunities taken. The 29th Rolex Middle Sea Race yet again confirmed the adage that 'it ain't over till it's over'. By 1800 CET three boats had sat in pole position for overall victory.

As things stand, French First 40.7, Spirit of Ad Hoc, skippered by Thierry Bouchard, seems to have proved itself best, able to adapt to the changing conditions of the race, improvising as necessary.

Only one yacht looks to be left on the course with the carrot of glory being dangled in front of its bow.

The Italian Ricomincio da Tre was one of the smallest boats to start the race at only 34 feet (10.26m), but potentially teeters on the verge of snatching one of the biggest trophies on the offshore stage.

By early Wednesday evening, only three yachts had finished and Andy Soriano's Alegre (GBR) was first on corrected time, as well as first home.

Niklas Zennstrom's RAN (GBR) was the fourth boat over the line, but not until shortly after 11 p.m. She was followed by Rapture (MAR), the biggest yacht in the race, and then Whisper (IRL).

It was not until 0700 CET yesterday that the floodgates opened properly and a stream of boats started to arrive, all with their own stories of how the race unfolded, where they were lucky and unlucky, what they might have done better and what they did well.

Special cheers yesterday were reserved for those with a shout at the overall prize and, of course, the local favourites. One of these was David Frank's Strait Dealer, the first Maltese boat home - an honour every local boat dreams of if the overall prize is beyond their reach.

Second Maltese home was Vikesha, skippered by Tim Camilleri.

Then, the roof was raised for Airmalta Falcon (MLT), whose principal helm Matthew Scicluna is only 16-years-old.

Midday or thereabouts is a fabulous time to arrive. The lunchtime diners at the Royal Malta Yacht Club always seem to have time to stand and applaud the finishing yachts, whatever point they have reached in their meal.

If you are a returning hero, in the form of 1968 Line Honours winner Stormvogel (GBR), which crossed the line at 1244 CET, you could be excused for taking in a few laps around the harbour to soak up the reception. If only yachts could bow.

Owner Ermano Traverso and skipper Graham Henry may not have set any records or matched the achievements of Connie Bruynzeel, but their effort to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first race will not be forgotten.

But it was earlier in the day that the excitement really started.

On corrected time, quite a few yachts seemed to have the chance to better Alegre's handicap adjusted time. The question was whether the wind would play ball.

It did until Comino, but thereafter the lottery took over. One minute you could be in clover, the next well and truly in the weed patch.

Italian yacht, Chestress 2, under the guidance of Giancarlo Ghislanzoni had until 3.30 in the afternoon to complete the course inside the overnight leader's mark. She did so with some ease, arriving an hour after Strait Dealer.

The effect of her arrival was like a stock market crash on the required finish time for the remaining yachts. Anyone who had hedged on Alegre's spot price being the one to beat found themselves horribly short.

Chestress 2 was 17th home, leaving 47 on the course (13 boats having retired). Only half of these had a glimmer of hope of scooping the MSR trophy.

The arrival of Spirit of Ad Hoc snuffed out most of those.

Ghosting across the line under spinnaker just after 1 p.m., Thierry Bouchard had cut it awfully fine.

Their drop dead time to beat Alegre had been 2040 (yesterday). Chestress 2's efforts had slashed this to 13.25.

This might seem a large gap, but it only converted to half-an-hour on corrected time and the relief felt by Bouchard will only become apparent if he holds on.

Spirit of Ad Hoc endured an appalling final ten miles, staggering from pocket of wind to pocket of wind. A park up off St Paul's bay looked to have smothered their opportunity, but the dice were still rolling and in she squeezed.

Bouchard said: " We knew that we had a chance to place third or fourth but are still very uncertain about our position. So, let's wait."

Now only a handful of competitors were in the title race. One was Arthur Podesta and Elusive Medbank (MLT). If anyone might have the cards stacked or the dice loaded in his favour it had to be Podesta.

Could this be his year?

"We knew we were close," he said.

"My daughter Maya gave us a 55-minute window to finish the course at one point. I think we took ten minutes too long.

"It was something special to take part in this anniversary event and I thoroughly enjoyed the race. And, don't worry I'll be back next year."