With less than a week to go for the start of the Royal Malta Yacht Club's Double Handed Round Malta race, many boat owners are preparing for this short-handed long distance race.

And with a varied mixture of racing and cruising boats, each one will have a different list of "must haves" on board. Many will be removing the "excess" cruising weight they carry on board during the winter, while some will be refining their sail wardrobe and tuning their rigs.

However, the most important ingredient is finding the right person as a crew member with the right amount of stamina.

Sailing around Malta is a long day out at sea and racing a boat with two people on board, which usually has ten crew members, is very challenging.

TonTon will come to the start line as IRC favourite. This Dufour 44 has been performing very well and is being sailed seriously and competitively while Comanche Raider is hot favourite for line honours being the highest-rated boat of the fleet.

Martin Meachem will again be sailing Mischief with regular crew member, Matthew Tabone.

"We know that consistency is the key and at this level that is not always possible. We'll be shooting for podium finishes," Meachem said.

It looks as though the front runners will have to wait until the whole fleet finishes the race as Gordon Craig will be sailing Harry. Craig will be racing with the lowest rating of the whole fleet and always sails a great race shorthanded.

The competitive Cruiser class will also have a great day out sailing. After a good finish in Gozo two weeks ago, Kevin Gauci Maistre will be trying to claim the top podium spot on board Sezel but will find many other cruisers in the way such as Breezer, Escape and Allegro Andante.

"We've got a great event lined up for this year and we are very excited about the number and quality of the boats participating," Andrew Magri Overend, representing sponsors International Yacht Paints, said.

The race starts on Saturday morning from Marsamxett Harbour.