Esimit Europa 2 was the first boat to cross the finish line at Marsamxett Harbour yesterday to claim the 2010 Rolex Middle Sea Race line honours.
The Slovenian entry was greeted by well-wishers off the Royal Malta Yacht Club in Ta’ Xbiex after making port at around 6.30 p.m.
That, however, meant that the record set in 2007 by George David’s Rambler – 47h, 55m, 3s – will remain intact for at least another year.
The other contenders for first past the imaginary line at Marsamxett, ICAP Leopard, was lagging some 40 miles behind and expected to reach destination in Valletta late last night.
ICAP Leopard had given chase all the way from the start and actually gained ground on Esimit after rounding Lampedusa at around midday but eventually they ran out of runway to reel in the big blue maxi.
The tailenders of the fleet of 69 yachts still racing, rounded the volcano of Stromboli and were all making their way to Favignana, then around Pantelleria, Lampedusa and through the south Comino channel, to the finish in Valletta.
With nine boats around the ‘mark’ of Favignana, the current overall leader, based on this group, was Bryon Ehrhart’s TP52 Lucky.
Ehrhart is a veteran of the Transpac, Newport Bermuda Race, and Bayview Mackinac Race and also actively campaigns an Etchells 22.
On board TP52 Lucky, the crew include some of Ehrhart’s Etchells crew, as well as Irishman, Ian Moore (crew member, BMW Oracle America’s Cup team) and New Zealander, Dave Swete (2010 World Match Racing champion).
The night could well have meant a tough one for many of the yachts that have not yet reached the northwest corner of Sicily, yesterday. A cold front was due to arrive from the northwest, bringing rain and wind speeds in excess of 20 knots, and lumpy seas, hampering their progress to Favignana.
Beating into strong headwinds can take its toll on the crew and the equipment, as Steinlager 2 have already found out.
Steinlager 2 is part of offshore racing folklore, winning the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race with legendary skipper, Sir Peter Blake.
Giles Pearman, crewmember onboard, said: “All sorts of problems changing to the number four headsail. We almost lost the number three (headsail) over the side when it ripped out of the foil. It took eight of us on the foredeck to get it under control. The decision on deck is that for now lifejackets and harnesses are mandatory.
“My Russian team-mates are acting like nothing just happened but I can’t hide the fact that I am exhausted.”
Further back in the fleet, Elusive 2 Medbank crew member Maya Podesta emailed earlier in the day: “Monday morning started with eggs and bacon on Elusive, after a not very pleasant second night. Lots of starting and stopping and ‘no wind’ games!
“Keeps you awake with lots of sail changes and trimming. It must be scenes such as a glowing eruption of Stromboli on one side, and baby dolphins on the other side of the boat at 2 a.m. that make this race special, and keep you going.
“It’s amazing how boats close by on either side can just sail by you and those behind keep catching up, while you never quite manage to catch those ahead of you.
“We’ve had a lot of drizzle all through the night, but nothing like the rain we hear they had back home. So, no rainbows to find a pot of luck at the end. But hey, it’s a long race, and we’re here to keep pushing, no matter how nasty the wind can be.”
Additional boats that have retired yesterday include the Class 40 Pogo 1 (GER), which is headed to Messina, the Cookson 50, Calipso IV (ITA), currently in Palermo, and the Vismara 42 Nautilus QQ7 (ITA).