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Teasing Machine
Teasing Machine third to messina
After 22 hours of racing, teasing machine and his crew just came out of the dread strait of messina. At the first crossing point at capopassero, the machine was pointed in 6th position in time offset in the standings behind some beautiful units in the image of rambler or wild Joe. After having opted for a navigation along the south coast of Sicily and then a road almost directly to the strait of messina, this is closest to the Italian coast that Eric of türkheim and Laurent Pagès have found their way through this Passage of history here. On the way out to the third place at the crossing point of messina, the a13 teasing machine will now do cape to a place symbolic of this rolex middle sea race namely ile stromboli and his volcano still in business. A navigation of forty miles which should take place in conditions and light enough, with a wind unstable in strength and direction. The Hierarchy of this 2016 Edition of the middle sea race starts quietly in place. We’re gonna have to show the greatest patience and unwavering navigation to keep the top of the standings and make a difference at the right time.
Beautiful day to you gentlemen and tonight for a new point.
Marina de Cascais – Giulietta
Some video footage shared by the Giuletta crew
Trifork
Bouwe Bekking, Helm, VO70 Trifork
Dutch ocean racer, Bouwe Bekking is taking part in the Rolex Middle Sea Race this year for the second time. For the 37th edition he is helm on the VO70 Trifork, having previously raced the course on Morning Glory in 2006 when the 86-foot Maxi won Overall on corrected time.
“The weather was really light that year, but good memories. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a great way to end the Med season. It has all the challenges, especially with the corners you have to get around. At each one there is something new happening,” comments Bekking.
Armed with huge experience from the Volvo Ocean Race – he’s done the race seven times – and other classic races, Bekking knows full well what to expect on the Rolex Middle Sea Race: “It doesn’t matter how big your boat, how many races you have done or the level you sail at. You have to take this race seriously. Everyone likes to win, but just to get around the course you have to be well-prepared.”
Looking at this year: “The Volvo 70 is a nice boat to sail with a bit of breeze and the race looks ok for the moment, but you always know that around Sicily there is likelihood of some tricky zones. The island is so high and creates areas of microclimate, so conditions do not always pan out as you expect.”
Bekking will be in good company for the race: “Many of the crew have sailed together in round the world races, so we all know each other well and we know the boat. Even though we’ve not had a lot of time together, it should not be too hard to get the boat going.”
Picking out special moments on the race is hard, according to Bekking: “The start and finish of the race are truly spectacular, but frankly really the whole course is great. You sail in sight of land a lot of the time, and the scenery is magnificent.”
DHL – Adelasia di Torres
Caterina Nitto, Helm, DHL – Adelasia di Torres
The Italian yacht M37 DHL – Adelasia di Torres made the perfect start to the 2016 Rolex Middle Sea Race leading the fleet out Grand Harbour. The yacht has quite a pedigree having won three ORC World Championships (Brindisi 2009, Cherso 2011 and Kiel 2014) and two European Championships (Punta Ala 2008 & Marina di Ravenna 2013). This year, at its first outing under the new ownership of Alberto Nobis and Renato Azara she won her class at the Trofeo Formenton.
For the 37th Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Adelasia di Torres crew includes a number of highly-respected Italian sailors, including Duccio Colombi (tactician) and Lorenzo Bodini (navigator), along with the vastly-experienced Caterina Nitto as helmswoman.
Nitto has been a true seafarer for many years, captaining various sailing and motor yachts all around the world: “I’m here because I really love sailing. It is a pure joy for me rather than work. I am really looking forward to participating this year. I did the race many years ago on a big boat, but it was more a cruise than a race. We had a chef on board; it was not very sporty!”
“I’m sure I am going to enjoy this race,” Nitto continues. “The organization is fantastic, there are so many yachts here for the race, and the spirit is excellent. Everyone is so positive. I really like the spirit. Our boat is a pure racer and the guys on board are really professional in their approach. Duccio (Colombio) is an old and very good friend of mine. He is an amazing guy to sail with. Always so calm! It will be a lot of fun.”
“We are not expecting much wind, which sometimes is more stressful than a lot. We have worked on organizing our crew rotation properly and the stowage of kit inside the boat. Both areas will be very important,” she advised before the start. “It will also be very important to maintain concentration. When you don’t have much wind it is very easy to lose focus. We need to be fast during the beginning part of the race to avoid being caught up in a windless zone. Straight from the start we need to work hard, and keep the boat speed up.”
For Nitto, the Mediterranean is one of the most beautiful sailing areas in the world, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race course is rightly regarded as spectacular in its own right: “I really enjoy sailing here. The Med is like home to me and every single piece of scenery is different, every corner offers something new. Beyond that I love the history and the many different and contrasting cultures that are contained such a small area.”
She also recognizes that the Med is a challenging environment: “Every sailor will tell you it can be a very difficult place to sail. Sailing in the ocean is fascinating, but here the wind is always changing, and there is a lot of current. It can be like being in a pot of boiling water!”
Rosalba
Rosalba IMOCA 60 approaching Stromboli (Gregg Parker)
Team Maverick
Photo Credit: Hannah Cotterell’
Maserati
After a spectacular night-time passage of the Stromboli volcano, the heated battle between Maserati Multi70 and Phaedo3 continues off the Aeolian Islands. The English craft has been leading the Rolex Middle Sea Race since the start, but currently the two trimarans are racing about 18 miles apart in a 10-knot SE off Salina and Filicudi. MaseratiMulti70 is making a speed of 21 knots (381 miles from Malta) while Phaedo3 is making 19.1 (363 miles from Malta). The weather conditions will remain stable as far as Palermo but just before San Vito Lo Capo, the wind will freshen and turn southerly so that the two MOD70s will be sailing increasing into the wind and will have to beat all the way to Malta.
