The Yachting Malta Coastal Race got underway on schedule on Wednesday 14 October, with a 30-nautical-mile course starting from Marsamxett Harbour, rounding Comino and returning to Marsamxett. Held three days before the start of the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race, the race offers crews an opportunity to sharpen their competitive skills ahead of the 606-nautical-mile contest around Sicily.
With wind speeds peaking at 25 knots, the Yachting Malta Coastal Race delivered spectacular, high-speed racing in exhilarating conditions. Filip Balcaen’s Mills 72 Balthasar, with Bouwe Bekking as tactician, claimed both line honours and the overall win under IRC, powering upwind at over 10 knots and touching 20 knots off the breeze.
Bouwe Bekking commented: “We had a great shakedown today. Everything and everybody is in full working order, which gives us a really good feeling ahead of the start on Saturday. The boat is performing well, the crew is working together brilliantly, and we’re looking forward to getting out there for the Rolex Middle Sea Race.”
Behind Balthasar, James Neville’s Botin 65 Artemis Bleu finished second overall, 8 minutes 55 seconds behind on IRC time correction. Bernard Arkas’s TP52 Arkas Blue Moon, skippered by Serhat Altay, completed the podium, a further 2 minutes 13 seconds back.
Fourth overall was Elusive 2, the First 45 owned by Christoph, Aaron and Maya Podesta. Sean Borg’s Cape 31 Jubatus finished fifth, just 40 seconds behind on corrected time. Elusive 2 was the top Maltese boat under IRC.
The overall podium also formed the top three in IRC Class 2/3: Balthasar ahead of Artemis Bleu with Arkas Blue Moon third. Michal Krysta’s Class40 Moonpalace was the sole boat to race in IRC Class 3, completing the course in 4 hours 2 minutes 58 seconds.
Maya Podesta steered the family-owned Elusive 2 to victory in IRC Class 4, and the honour of top Maltese boat. Sean Borg’s Cape 31 Jubatus, just 40 seconds behind on corrected time, took second in class and fifth overall. Jonathan Gambin’s Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla completed the class podium. Aaron Podesta commented: “It was a really enjoyable day out on the water aboard Elusive. The crew worked well together, and the sailing conditions were excellent. It was a great shakedown sail ahead of Saturday’s big race, giving us the opportunity to get into rhythm as a team and fine-tune a few things. We are looking forward to the big start on Saturday morning!”
Sebastian Ripard and Daniel Calascione took victory in IRC Class 5 aboard Maltese Farr 30 Calypso, winning by 7 minutes 26 seconds on corrected time from Maks Vrečko’s Slovenian Elan 450 Karpo. Lasse Tim Seeger’s Sun Fast 3600 Löwe Von Bremen from Germany completed the podium just 26 seconds behind Karpo.
“We’ve raced together as a crew this year, but it was great to get Calypso out in some good breeze today and really put her through her paces. The boat is in much the same configuration as last year, so it was a good shakedown before the big race,” said Sebastian Ripard.
This year, Ripard’s brother Tommy joins the Calypso crew for his 14th Rolex Middle Sea Race. Four grandchildren of John Ripard Snr, co-founder and first winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race who passed away this summer, are aboard this year adding another chapter to the family’s long association with the event.
Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele’s Reflex 38 Vivace won IRC Class 6 by 2 minutes 41 seconds on corrected time from Christina Wolfe’s highly competitive Sun Fast 3300 Red Ruby—a notable scalp for the Maltese team. Ruaridh Plummer’s Pronavia 38 Bongani from United Kingdom, racing with LSS Ocean Racing, completed the podium, some 23 minutes 17 seconds behind.
Agius Delicata commented: “What a fun, fast coastal race! The crew pushed hard from start to finish, keeping Vivace flying and getting every tactical call spot-on. The atmosphere on board was fantastic, the teamwork was flawless, and we were battling all the way to the finish line. Finishing ahead of Red Ruby made the result especially rewarding.”
Just 2 minutes 16 seconds off the podium was the Maltese youth team aboard the J/109 JYS Jan, skippered by Gary Mercieca and representing the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation. The young sailors finished fourth in a competitive 12-boat class. Gary Mercieca commented: “I’m really looking forward to this year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race, as I do every year. This time we have a fresh team of young sailors, with the youngest just 14 years old. Although we’re a young crew, we make up for our lack of experience by spending as much time as possible together on the water. That preparation is incredibly important, giving the younger sailors the experience and confidence they need to take on such a challenging race.”
With the Yachting Malta Coastal Race complete, attention now turns to the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race, starting at 11:00 on Saturday 17 October from Malta’s spectacular Grand Harbour. The 606-nautical-mile race around Sicily will take the fleet through some of the Mediterranean’s most challenging water and breathtaking scenery, from the Strait of Messina and the volcanic island of Stromboli to the exposed western and southern approaches to Sicily. While Wednesday’s lively conditions provided a thrilling test, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a very different proposition. Over the coming days, crews will make their final preparations, study the developing weather forecasts and consider the tactical challenges ahead. For some, the Yachting Malta Coastal Race will have provided reassurance; for others, valuable lessons. On Saturday, the great adventure begins.