A bout of sea fitness

Winners of last year’s edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, co-skippers of Artie, prepare for this year’s classic offshore regatta.

Last year, you finally put an end to the drought of Maltese winners in the Rolex Middle Sea Race – how physically tough was it?

We normally compensate for the lost energy once we hit shore- Lee Satariano

Lee Satariano: We were glad to put an end to the drought and even more so as the year before we placed second overall. Apart from the physical toil, the race was also tough mentally as you’re always trying to optimise your route to find the shortest and fastest course.

Christian Ripard: The race is always physically demanding for all the crew but the weather was kind and not that rough. All in all, it wasn’t that bad.

Apart from sailing, do you practise other sports?

LS: I’ve been windsurfing since I was 12 and I still try to practise the sport when we have some good wind.

CR: Apart from sailing, I’m very keen on swimming.

What training regime do you follow in order to be able to sail competitively?

LS: We try to get out on the water as much as possible. This year, we even competed in the Giraglia Rolex Cup, which is an offshore classic that starts off from Saint-Tropez, rounds Giraglia, and finishes off in San Remo – that’s a total distance of approximately 242 nautical miles.

CR: I sail professionally throughout the year in overseas events and in Malta, I do my best to go out on the water and train whenever possible. This year, we competed in the Giraglia Rolex Cup, which was the best form of training.

Do you up your training regime before competing in the RMSR?

LS: We have started with some sailing sessions and plan to go out more frequently. We’re also very busy preparing for the race and trying to optimise the boat even further.

CR: In the run up to the Rolex Middle Sea Race, we spent more time on the water – the suitable weather in September and October allows us to do this. Training also benefits the whole crew so that we don’t get rusty and everyone is on the ball.

How do you compensate the lack of sleep when sailing competitively?

LS: We normally compensate for the lost energy once we hit shore. On board, we also have a good watch system that we are all used to.

CR: We try and get as much sleep as we can. Still, the race is physically demanding and we compensate by eating properly and making sure that we rest when we are off the watch. That said, the race is only three or four days long so we have to tough it up – there’s plenty of time to rest after the race.

I eat foods that are high in proteins and carbohydrates and avoid sugar- Christian Ripard

Do you follow a specific nutrition and food plan?

LS: We try and follow a good nutrition plan – apart from our dry food, this year we also hope to include some warm meals on board.

CR: I eat foods that are high in proteins and carbohydrates and avoid sugar.

What health benefits does sailing give you?

LS: Sailing is good for both body and mind – there are also benefits in working as a team.

CR: Clean air, open spaces and physical exercise is what you get out of sailing – it definitely beats jogging on the Sliema front with all those car fumes.

What injuries are common to sailing?

LS: A few rope burns are common.

CR: Rope burns, head injuries and toe stubbing are pretty common when sailing, not to mention cases of severe seasickness.

Does competitive sailing also require mental strength and strong willpower?

LS: Mental strength plays a big part prior to the race and throughout.

CR: In any sport, mental strength is a requisite, especially when faced with a very high level of competition. You also need a strong sense of discipline and, when sailing, seamanship skills and proper preparation.