Maltese proud to fly the flag

The 30th Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted 78 entries to date, of which 16 are Maltese-flagged boats... four more than in 2008. Whilst all in race, starting on Saturday, will harbour secret ambitions of the overall win, Maltese skippers will be just as happy to be the first local boat across the finish line.

The most experienced of the crews is surely that of Arthur Podesta (Elusive II Medbank). With 29 races under his belt, Podesta knows the course backwards.

Three times on the winning boat - 1968 Josian, 1972 Tikka and 1983 Saudade - he has even tasted overall victory. His crew has a long way to go to catch up with his track record, but Podesta's children Maya, Aaron and Christoph have racked up an impressive 23 races between them.

"Forty years on I still enjoy preparing my boat for the race, and I still get the adrenalin rush and the butterflies during the pre-start," Podesta, third overall last year, said.

Next in the experience ranking is probably Timmy Camilleri, skippering Oleg Evdokimenko's Vikesha.

Camilleri has competed in the MSR 15 times and has an enviable record... four times on the winning boat: 1982 Levantades, 1996 Bigfoot, 2001 Strait Dealer and 2002 Market Wizard (the last Maltese boat to secure the overall crown).

Even though his fellow crewmates are relatively inexperienced by comparison, Camilleri is firmly in the camp of never saying never where this race is concerned.

So, if it is a small boat race, expect to see Vikesha pushing hard.

Michael Montanaro Gauci takes third spot on the experience podium, with 12 races.

This will be the first time he has raced Whistler, and, with a crew from Malta, the UK and Russia, half of whom are on their first race, Gauci will need to bring all his wisdom to bear.

One of the biggest local entries is the 50-foot Bavaria Flyer - Windward, in the capable hands of Anthony Camilleri who is about to embark on his ninth race.

For the third time he is racing double-handed with Kevin Gauci-Maistre. One of Camilleri's best memories from his childhood is sailing with Jimmy White, one of the race's founders, when he was only ten.

Another on his ninth race is Jonas Diamantino, with his 40-foot Comanche Raider II - Gasan Mamo.

Diamantino was one of the few to complete the storm-ridden 2007 race. First Maltese boat home last year, he has set about improving his boat for this year's contest.

David Pizzuto has also done the race eight times, twice on Geisha.

Of his 11 crew, only Mike Poole will be a newcomer.

This will be the seventh MSR for Sandro Musu, skipper of Aziza.

His best finish was fifth overall in 2004, but his strongest memory is likely to be last year when with a number of others he was caught in a vicious squall off Pantelleria and forced to retire.

Rebel is taking part for the first time, but skipper Jost Merten will be notching up number six.

Merten acknowledges his chances for the overall trophy are slim because his yacht does not rate well under IRC. However, he likes the race because it is open to both professionals and amateurs, and the amateurs have to prepare just as hard as the pros if they are going to get around.

Commodore ashore

Edward Gatt Floridia has always raced with Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore, Georges Bonello Dupuis until this year.

With Bonello Dupuis staying ashore to help the organisation, Gatt Floridia is skippering his own boat Otra Vez for the first time.

Most of his crew are crewmates from previous races and their best result was one to be savoured - first Maltese boat home in 2004. This is Gatt Floridia's sixth race.

David Franks is another about to embark on his sixth race. His steed is the mighty Strait Dealer, winner in 2001 in the hands of Cristian Ripard. Since then Franks has been first Maltese yacht home on four occasions, with his best result being fourth overall in 2003.

Lee Satariano and Artie are famous for having come so close to the ultimate glory in 2006.

It was not to be, but as a standard bearer for the small boat prospects, this example of never giving-up takes some beating. Satariano is on his fifth race.

Nemesis-Credaltrust is another 50-footer being raced double-handed. Skipper Mark Schranz is not in the same league as Anthony Camilleri though.

Schranz is only on his fourth race, but having competed three times previously on Artie, he knows what it takes to do well. Schranz's co-skipper is Isaac Borg.

While Peter Spiteri-Gonzi, skipper of Airmalta Falcon II, is competing for the third time, amongst his crew is Matthew Scicluna.

At 17, Scicluna has already raced the course three times.

Jonathon Gambin and Ton Ton may have some work to do to match the feats of the other Maltese skippers. Gambin has only done the race twice before.

It would have been three had he not injured his hand before the start of the 2007 race. Last year was Gambin's first race as skipper of his own boat.

Another with limited experience, but unlimited enthusiasm, is Kevin Dingli on Fekruna.

He started competitive racing in 2005 and only made his debut in the Middle Sea Race last year on Squibs.

The 16th Maltese-flagged boat is completely new to the race and is not strictly a Maltese yacht. However, Nadejda carries a Maltese registration and ensign.

Nadejda was only launched in March this year, but has competed in the Giraglia Rolex Cup as part of its shakedown. Skipper Simon Tubby has competed in the Arc and Rolex Fastnet in different yachts and this will provide invaluable knowledge.

Whilst none of the Maltese yachts are likely to break the course record, they all have a shout at overall victory if conditions suit them and they have a share of any luck on offer.

If nothing else, every Maltese with nothing planned for Saturday should be cheering their compatriots out of Grand Harbour when the race sets off.