26/10/10 17:19

Hungarian entry, Wild Joe, skippered by Márton Jozsa finished the Rolex Middle Sea Race at 14:39.

The first yacht from Hungary to complete the race. Wild Joe is skippered by one designers sailors, from Hungary with the exception of Australian, Bret Perry, who has learnt a few words over the last few days! The crew of Wild Joe are Tibor Palatinus, Tamás Kelemen, Marcell Goszleth, Áron Németh, András D’Albini, Zsolt Magyary-Kossa, András Aklan, Csaba Adorján, András Vígh, Tamás Galgoczi, Csaba Király, Csaba Lukáts, Istvan Pal and Brett Perry.

Egészségünkre! (Cheers!)

26/10/10 16:10

Bryon Ehrhart’s TP52, Lucky finished the race at 14:46, to stake a claim to the overall title in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Ian Moore, navigator said dockside. “That was a very tactical race, there was a big wind hole on the approach to Messina and we stuck to our game plan and managed not to get caught in the trap. At Stromboli we decided to go right in close and we managed to get through there. I would say that those were two key areas of the race but it was great to go nip and tuck with Pace.”

Lucky will have to wait to see if they win the overall prize of The Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy. There are several yachts that can overhaul them, especially the Maltese local boat, J/122, Artie.

26/10/10 16:00

Vladimir Prosikhin’s Volvo 70, E1 finished at 12:35

“Wow what a ride!” Commented John Brinkers, as Volvo 70 E1 pulled into the Grand Harbour, Valetta. “I knew that these boars were quick but when we were smoking along it was a real rush to be on the wheel, blasting along at over twenty knots. Like most of the crew, this is the first time that I have sailed one of these boats and I under-estimated how physical it is to race one.”

25/10/10 11:00

Following the retirement of Piazza Alberto and Quadarella Aldo’s Vismara 42, Nautilus QQ7 late yesterday. Gianluigi Dubbini’s X-55, CAPRICCIRICCI retired this morning along with Leonardo Cattaneo’s Viva 48, Futura. All crew are reported safe and well. 66 yachts are still racing with Vladimir Prosikhin’s Volvo 70, E1 expected to finish next.

26/10/10 10:55

This morning Andre Soriano’s Alegre crossed the finish line just after eight o’clock. Wil Best said that they would have faired better if they had more upwind work in the pressure. He explained that the crew had work well as a unit, as they always do, except for a few competitions over bunks when off watch -‘There never seemed to be one for me’ – He lamented with a wry smile. No doubt, the crew on Alegre will have enjoyed a hot shower, full breakfast and a soft mattress in Malta this morning.

26/10/10 09:00

Just after Ten last night. Mike Slade’s Maxi ICAP Leopard crossed the finish line to finish the race in second place. Obviously they were not content but Slade and his crew where far from disappointed.

They knew that the weather forecast was strongly favouring their rivals and expected that they could do little about it.

Slade is an enigmatic character and a true gentleman. Several of the Esimit Europa crew were dockside and Slade didn’t hesitate to congratulate them on their win. Afterwards, the ICAP Leopard crew enjoyed some pasta and fine wine and no doubt some great stories. Which were emanating from the dinner table as the crew laughed and joked with each other. ICAP Leopard may not have won this race but Slade’s passion for fun was still undiminished.

ICAP Leopard will live to fight another day and we all know how dangerous a wounded animal can be.