Artie owner looks for consistency on race debut
Motivated Maltese crew ready for the challenge
The 2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup is now in its final month of preparation. Celebrating the 60th edition this year, the week-long prog-ramme of sailing commences on June 8 with a prologue race from Sanremo to Saint Tropez.
The main event, the 241-nautical mile race from Saint Tropez to Sanremo via La Giraglia, starts on June 13.
The entry list for the offshore race shows some notable re-turnees to a challenge that re-quires resolute determination to successfully counter the vagaries of the wind, the fierce competition within an anticipated 200-boat fleet and the twists and tactical conundrums presented by the race itinerary.
Dominique Heyraud and the 37-foot Foxy Lady (France) are back to defend the unexpected title secured last year and Igor Simcic’s 100-foot Esimit Europa 2 (Slovenia) is also on the prowl keen to match Alfa Romeo 2’s record of three line honours victories in a row.
There are always newcomers on the start list, but few will match the pedigree of the 40-foot Artie (Malta), owned by Lee Satariano and co-skippered by Christian Ripard.
In their previous competitive offshore outing, the combination were the first Maltese in ten years to win the hugely demanding 606-nm Rolex Middle Sea Race.
This is Satariano’s first venture away from home waters, something he is looking forward to.
“It will be a great challenge, but we’re all up for it,” he was reported as saying.
“The most important characteristic we possess is a motivated crew.
“After that consistency is a major factor, as is good preparation.”
The last time the offshore element of the Giraglia Rolex Cup finished in Sanremo in 2010 it was a big-boat race with the Mini Maxi Shockwave taking the overall win.
Along with Esimit Europa 2, several other maxis have entered the 2012 contest, including Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou (Great Britain), Gerard Logel’s @robas (France) and Agyd Pengg’s E1 (Austria).
Whatever their hopes and aspirations, all crews will be looking forward with great anticipation to this Mediterranean institution, sponsored by Rolex since 1997.
With European protagonists forming the bulk of the fleet and the football championship kicking off on June 8, the pre-race atmosphere in Saint Tropez may be a little more tangible and tense than usual.