10:16 AM Tue 20 Oct 2009 GMT
The 30th Rolex Middle Sea Race is far from over with only eight yachts finished, thirty-nine yachts still on the course and twenty-three retired. DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) was the last yacht to finish, arriving at 3 o'clock this morning after enduring a slow passage from Lampedusa to Malta. Not as slow as the rest of the fleet though.
The forecast weather may not have materialised as well as hoped by ICAP Leopard (GBR), depriving her of a record, but it is developing with a vengeance for those still at sea. The strong northwesterlies that powered the leaders to Pantelleria and progressively lightened towards the Maltese archipelago have now completely dissolved. The wind has softened dramatically and, as predicted, started swinging to the southeast, changing a downwind leg into an upwind leg. Just what you do not need on a small boat entering your fourth day of racing.
The next boats expected to finish are Nikata (GBR), Nadejda (RUS) and Calipso 4 (ITA), by no means imminently. Currently, the three are en route from Lampedusa just to the south east of isolated island of Linosa. After these you have to look north of the Lampedusa for the next group of yachts, which includes first Maltese yacht on the water, David Frank's Strait Dealer (MLT).
Then one is back at Pantelleria, which the frontrunners passed over twenty-four hours ago. Elusive II Medbank (MLT) has just rounded the island and fired off a quick report, 'We're up two fish but one spinnaker, two halyards, and one sheet down, as well as 2-metres short on our spinnaker pole. Despite all that we're still at it! We've managed to jury rig repair our broken pole to be able to fly a chute. Last night was frustrating as the wind died and changed direction. We went from a medium kite to a light, to a code zero, to the wind seeker and finally to the light no1 in a short matter of time, but finally we settled into the light southerly beat. Eggs and Bacon this morning helped keep our morale up, as we were surrounded by about 300 dolphins close to Pantelleria.'
Further back the last two yachts, the double-handers Cymba (ITA) and Cambo III (ESP), continue to duke it out in their own private battle. Expected to round Capo San Vito this morning, they still have half the course to complete.
Snug in port, Andy Soriano's Alegre (GBR) is looking more secure by the hour in first place overall.
A more detailed report will be issued this afternoon.
For more information about the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2009 including the entry list, position reports and results please visit
www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
by Media
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Double Is Pt, QLD
