Maltese boats Otra Vez and Artie compete in the main event of the 2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup today.

The crews of the J/122s are well prepared and are hoping for a good showing for Malta among the prestigious fleet in the 241-nautical mile race from St Tropez to San Remo through La Giraglia.

Yesterday, both crews chose to rest and save their equipment due to very high wind conditions.

Lee Satariano's Artie, co-skippered by Christian Ripard, and Aaron and Edward Gatt Floridia's Otra Vez performed well in the two inshore races earlier this week, placing among the big boats. Artie placed an excellent sixth in the first leg from San Remo to St Tropez.

Artie and Otra Vez competed in inshore races of the Giraglia Rolex Cup this week. Photos: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Forecasts for today show very strong conditions for the first half of the race to the Giraglia Rock and it will be a testing time for boats and crews, Otra Vez's Sean Arrigo told timesofmalta.com.

"Both crews are prepared and the boats are ready for one of the most prestigious races on the yachting calendar," Arrigo said yesterday. "The Maltese boats are giving a good account of themselves, and doing their best to repeat the good performance in the Rolex Middle Sea Race."

The crews of Artie and Otra Vez, who placed first and third overall in last year's Rolex Middle Sea Race, are also hoping their participation in the 60th edition of the Giraglia Rolex Cup will go some way to promoting the 2012 Rolex Middle Sea Race which starts in the Grand Harbour in October.