Jonas Diamantino and Ramon Sant Hill take the Rolex Middle Sea Race very seriously. They have just spent four weeks putting very fine filler onto the keel – a process known as fairing – to ensure that it is completely symmetric, in an attempt to reduce a slight bias in the boat that they co-skipper, Comanche Raider II, sponsored by Gasan Mamo.
“The flow of water over the keel was disturbed and this was making the boat more efficient on one tack than on the other. It is something we had realised some time ago but never got around to sorting out,” Jonas said.
This project is just one of the three things they are doing this year to improve the chances of victory.
He hopes that three new sails from a foreign sailmaker will give him more of an edge after he sought professional advice which shocked him: His sails were only reaching 80 per cent of the boat’s potential.
“We spent a lot of money on these sails – honestly, without Gasan Mamo’s sponsorship, we would simply not be able to compete. We are not in the same financial situation as some of the other boats that can afford to spend €75,000 on sails! In fact, we do all our own work on the boat, to save money.”
Comanche Raider II will be carrying 11 sails in addition to the mandatory two emergency ones – carefully selected from the sail wardrobe of 20 he owns. The race takes its toll: In the notorious race of 2007, every one of the sails was damaged.
The third tweak will be managing the team dynamics: “We always do pretty well – we were only 200m behind the winner last year. Comanche Raider II is one of the lightest boats for its length – just 6 tonnes – and we do very well at the beginning of the race. But I think that complacency then sets in and we don’t start to panic again until the final third of the race – by when the last effort is too little, too late.
“So this year, we have been discussing ways to ensure that the whole crew remains completely focussed throughout the race,” he said.
Will he be changing the watch system?
“I cannot tell you that. This is one of my most closely guarded secrets!” he laughed.
He and Ramon bicker happily like an old married couple but there is enough humour there to ensure that tension never builds up. One year, Ramon painted the emergency telephone number – 112 – on the keel, upside down of course. And when they were discussing provisions – three freeze-dried meals and 2 litres of water per person per day – Ramon mentioned bananas, knowing that Jonas is superstitious enough to insist these never, but never, come on board.
“But we do need goodies to snack on. A huge big rubbish bag of utterly decadent goodies. Those I allow,” Jonas said with a grin.
Life on board racing boats is far removed from the indolent luxury of gin and tonic at anchor on a cruising yacht. The boat has just four pipe cots for its crew of 10, a small gas burner on which they boil water for the rations and endless rounds of hot drinks, and a toilet. Which does not work, but which is fine as they will be sailing with an all-male crew. (Don’t ask...)
Will it be enough to win them the coveted trophy? Ramon laughed but Jonas’ eyes twinkled. “Why not? The Maltese always do remarkably well, even though we are up against multimillion euro yachts with a professional crew and bottomless pockets.
“And we have been on a winning streak this year in all the Royal Malta Yacht Club races – which certainly makes our sponsors Gasan Mamo smile!
“We have our new sails, the faired keel, the team spirit. At the end of the day, all we would win is the Rolex watch... But the competitive spirit is amazing and yes, we want to win.”
Just pray that none of the crew smuggle bananas on board.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the Middle Sea Race in 1968, and 2013 will be the 34th edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually.
This year, a record 107 boats are expected to take part in the 606 nautical mile race which starts on Saturday October 19.
The race has a major impact on the Maltese economy – both directly and indirectly. Boats spend thousands of euro on getting the boat and container-loads of spare equipment to Malta.
The crew, an average of 10 per yacht, spend days here prior to the race and in the days between the race and the award-giving. The amount spent locally on chandlery is also legendary for these money-no-object participants.
Locals do a lot of work on the last-minute preparations, ranging from polishing to mechanical services, as well as being engaged to return the yachts to home base.
However, the race also has an indirect impact through the international media exposure guaranteed by the main sponsors, Rolex, whose nine-year involvement with the Middle Sea Race has put it in the same category as other legendary races such as the Sydney-to-Hobart.
Economist Edward Scicluna, now Foreign Minister, had a few years ago estimated that the overall impact could be worth €14 million.