24/10/10 18:20
All to play for
As the second day of the Rolex Middle Sea Race draws to a close, the crews prepare themselves for the second night at sea. They will be becoming accustomed to life on board. Food will have become fuel and optimising boat speed will be the only real objective.
Tomorrow, the weather is due to change, as it so often does during this fascinating race. Fresh breeze is expected to arrive from the northwest, which will give the lead boats some fresh downwind conditions once they are past the northwest corner of Sicily. Esimit Europa 2 and ICAP Leopard could well be launched in big breeze with a wind direction of 125 degrees. Right on the sweet spot, the Maxis should be launched, for a while at least.
So far, in light to moderate conditions the lighter displacement boats have faired well. But the predicted change to heavy weather may well favour the heavier displacement boats, especially as it looks like the majority of the fleet have a fair amount of upwind work to contend with.
Local favourite, Artie is the over night leader, if they can hang on to that position there will be the biggest party at the Royal Malta Yacht Club for sure.