| Make or break. |
| By the Rolex Middle
Sea Race Media Team. |
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| Photos by Kurt Arrigo
for Rolex, edited By Peter Andrews. |
| 18:00 CEST, October 23, 2011. |
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| Heading towards sunset on Sunday evening, a handful of boats in the 2011 Rolex Middle Sea Race fleet have found themselves facing the ultimate drawbridge, the Strait of Messina. With the current having turned adverse, any boats still south of the Strait will need enough wind to get them through and fortunately for most, there has been more wind than forecast. Otherwise, they’ll find the door shut until the tide turns favourable again. |
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The Reichel Pugh 60 Wild Joe (HUN), at sunset on the second day, during
the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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One boat that made it through was Seawolf, a 38-footer from Gibraltar in Class 4. At 17:30, skipper Dave Latham reported they were in great shape with the boat five miles from exiting the Strait. At the time they were making eight knots over the ground under spinnaker, in a southerly breeze of 14 knots. Another escapee was Nisida (GBR), skippered by Peter Hobbs.
“We just exited the Strait,” said Hobbs. “We lost a bit of ground on the way up here this morning, having done well overnight. As we approached the narrows we came to a standstill and watched other boats come up towards us. But that happens now and again. Overall we are very happy getting through the Strait in good shape. The weather forecast has borne little relation to what we have received. Certainly we are here quicker than expected.” |
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Niklas Zennström’s JV72, Rán (GBR) passing through the
Strait of Messina with Capo Peloro lighthouse in the background, during
the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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Once out of the Strait of Messina, the fleet continues northwest through the Tyrrhenian Sea up to the eastern edge of the Aeolian island chain and the volcanic island of Stromboli. Off the northeast tip of Stromboli lies the tiny rocky islet of Strombolicchio which is the turning point for the fleet to head towards the south west towards Capo San Vito and the western side of Sicily.
“Looking forward to seeing Stromboli, where it is always difficult,” continued Hobbs. “We anticipate the wind going light off Capo San Vito, but we’ll see what happens. So far the menu has been good. We had a very good Thai green curry last night. I prepared it before the race, so I would say that! Tonight it is bolognese.” |
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Benucci Roberto's One (ITA) ahead Karuba
V (CRO) skippered by Goranko Fizulic,
and Florio Massimiliano's Grande Orazio (ITA), passing through the Strait
of Messina, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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The Italians onboard the Azuree 40 Catty Sark Waterfront Fleqreo, were also glad to be clear of the Strait of Messina and were now en route to Stromboli.
“We’re just out of the Strait,” said Co-skipper Enrico Lanzillo. “We have 16 knots of breeze at 140 degrees, with the gennaker up, and making nine knots. The tidal current was going against us, so we managed to go inshore and find a favourable eddy, sailing near the (mainland) coast.” |
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Mario Girelli's Class 40 Patrica II (ITA), clearing the Strait of Messina,
during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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| At 18:00, Igor Simcic’s Reichel Pugh 100 Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), Niklas Zennström’s JV72, Rán (GBR), and Andres Soriano’s Mills 68 Alegre (GBR) were around the corner at Stromboli and sailing along the top of Sicily. Esimit was approaching the northwest tip near San Vito lo Capo, with Rán approximately 88 nautical miles behind her, still off the Aeolian Islands. Alegre a further 21 nautical miles behind Rán, closing slowly. Over half of the fleet is now in the 35-nautical mile stretch of water between the Strait and the turn at Stromboli. |
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Andres Soriano’s Mills 68 Alegre (GBR) approaching Stromboli with
nearby Strombolicchio seen on the far right, during the Rolex Middle Sea
Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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Alegre was sailing a heading of 070 degrees at eight knots when navigator Will Best reported in.
“It was very painful getting to Messina, I must say. We should be further up to Rán, but that’s the way it is. We’ve got until Trapani to claw anything back from Rán and after that it’s pretty much a drag race home. The mood’s been up and down; there have been a few depressions, but it’s all pretty cheery right now. Just to get
moving again after a long night last night was a big relief, and it was quite nice to sail through Messina this morning.”
Asked about the forecast for tonight, he added: “Kind of hoping for anything. If it’s an easterly component and it brings more pressure down towards Rán, we can get into them a bit. If not and they park up hopefully, we can still get into them a bit. We look at the tracker and can see when they’re getting lifted and gybing, and it’s definitely an advantage
being behind them, for sure.” |
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Andres Soriano’s Mills 68 Alegre (GBR) clearing the Strait of Messina,
during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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The first Maltese boat through the Strait was Jonas Diamantino’s ILC40 Comanche Raider II Gasan Mamo. Diamantino said that last night, after sailing on a tack towards Croatia, they made a big tactical decision to head inshore. At daybreak they realised they had made big gains and were really pleased to be the first Maltese boat through the Strait, which they achieved around 15:00 this afternoon, helped along by a two-knot current.
From onboard AOC Rockall (GER), tactician John Brinkers reported this afternoon: “Running under (repaired) A2 spinnaker through the straits with Italy to starboard, Sicily to port. Not too much breeze but we are tickling along nicely. Opposition
got away a bit so having to work hard to reel them back in. Last of the fresh food for dinner tonight, then it’s onto the freeze-dried. Nice. NOT!” |
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Benucci Roberto's One (ITA) ahead Karuba
V (CRO) skippered by Goranko Fizulic,
and Florio Massimiliano's Grande Orazio (ITA), passing through the Strait
of Messina, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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The 40-footer Vaquita, cleared the Strait around 16:00 today and tactician Andreas Hanakamp called in by phone to provide the following report.
“We lost ground by going offshore yesterday, but we’ve worked it back. We’re sailing near several Class 40s’ for the first time. Glad to report the forecast is wrong and we have sunshine and breeze from behind, so we have the
spinnaker up. Expecting spectacular view of Stromboli tonight. The leg from Stromboli looks tricky. Tomorrow we’ll be in lighter breeze and our routing sends us north, but we’re not sure of that.”
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Laurent Pellecuer and Oscar Kouyukhov’s 90-foot maxi Med
Spirit (FRA)
clearing the Strait of Messina, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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| Stromboli is part of the Aeolian Island archipelago, named after the wind god, Aeolus. The largest islands in the group are Lipari and Salina; while the others include Vulcano, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea, as well as their nearby islets. All of the islands are of volcanic origin and include two active volcanoes on Vulcano and Stromboli. Over 40 species of birds are found on the islands, including ten that are on the Sicilian Red List for threatened species. |
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A smoking Stromboli, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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| In 2007, George David’s Rambler (USA) established the current Course Record of 47 hours, 55 minutes, 3 seconds. To beat this record the first boat must finish by approximately 11:30 CEST Monday October 24. A total of 70 yachts started the 32nd Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday October 22 and the final prize giving is at 12:00 CEST on Saturday October 29 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. |
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Andres Soriano’s Mills 68 Alegre (GBR) rounding the turning point
of Strombolicchio, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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| For further information about the Rolex Middle Sea Race, go to: www.rolexmiddlesearace.com. |
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| Outimage and Rolex © 2011 |
