Class Podiums Develop in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race
by Rolex Middle Sea Race Media 24 Oct 11:44 PDT
24 October 2024
After the overall winner of the 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race was announced yesterday, focus has shifted to the remaining vessels still at sea, class victors, and additional podium finishes.
Since Wednesday afternoon, an additional 26 boats have completed the race, leaving 36 still competing. The class winners for IRC 1 to 4 have been determined. Boats in IRC 5 have finished, including the first double-handed entry, and notably, the first Maltese boats have completed the race.
Provisional class winners under IRC time correction are as follows: IRC 1 Balthasar, IRC 2 Red Bandit, IRC 3 Long Courrier, and IRC 4 Elusive 2. In IRC 5, Calypso, the smallest boat in the fleet, was the second boat in class to finish this morning and is currently leading by almost five hours over the Swan 53 Bedouin, which finished a half-hour earlier. It appears unlikely that anyone still competing will surpass the time set. In IRC 6, the first boat in the water, Zephyr, is two-thirds of the way between Lampedusa and the Maltese archipelago. With 40 nautical miles remaining, the British entry is expected to arrive early Friday morning. Marina 21, the first of the double-handers, finished at 16:01 CEST today, with the next boat in class, Lazy Duck, trailing by 65 nautical miles. Artie III was the first Maltese boat to finish, just after midnight. Elusive 2 improved upon Calypso’s corrected time by 45 seconds, placing her in a strong position for the local win under IRC.
The competition for IRC 3 seemed effectively settled after the first night. Long Courrier took the lead during the leg to Messina, and being the lowest-rated boat in the class after the retirement of Galbula 10, felt no threat. Yet, it was a genuine contest with unexpected twists along the way.
“The weather was astonishing; three hours after the start, we encountered a storm unlike any I’ve seen before, with winds exceeding 50 knots arriving almost instantaneously,” remarked Géry Trentesaux. “We were sailing downwind with the big spinnaker up and surfing, then the storm struck, knocking us flat for ten minutes. We were relieved that we didn’t sustain any damage and could resume sailing.”
“This was a very complicated race, and the weather forecast didn’t match the reality,” explained Alexis Loison, navigator of Long Courrier. “We were constantly seeking the best route while trying to avoid excessive risks. The default strategy was to take the shortest route and push hard at 100% of our polar targets and speed. We also monitored the boats around us.”
Trentesaux continued the story: “We had favorable conditions and navigated well through Messina. We led the race, but repairs to our broken mainsail and jib cost us 40 minutes. North of Sicily, we encountered nearly 24 hours of no wind, but since we were the lowest-rated boat in our class, it did not hinder us.” Long Courrier’s closest competitors during the race included X-Day, Sagola Sportivento, Artie III, Afazik Impulse, and BeWild. Although the competition fluctuated in the early stages, by the finish, the corrected time gap was 11 hours and 31 minutes over BeWild.
In a race like this, a cohesive team dynamic is crucial. The impacts of stress and fatigue accumulate. The crew that stands together can endure the most challenging times. “The Courrier crew has sailed together for a long time,” Trentesaux noted. “Though we have some new members, we began this journey 25 years ago and have a very capable team.” Loison also highlighted their close-knit relationship: “This team comprises great friends with a remarkable spirit. We all understand our roles, which keeps operations straightforward on board.”
Long Courrier may have made the race appear effortless. However, it was far from simple, as confirmed by Maltese skipper Aaron Gatt Floridia of the ICE 52 Otra Vez. “This was my tenth Rolex Middle Sea Race,” Gatt Floridia said. “This year’s class was extremely tough. All the boats were exceptionally well-prepared and well-sailed. The racing was intense, and it was challenging to pull away from the fleet.”
Artie III was the first Maltese vessel to finish. Two-time winner Lee Satariano concurred with Gatt Floridia’s assessment. “The Rolex Middle Sea Race draws top-tier international sailors,” Satariano stated. “The caliber of competitors and the quality of boats continually rise. Our most important goal this year was to successfully finish the race, especially after sustaining damage during a significant squall.”
Significant decisions in a 600-mile race are often made long before setting out. For Satariano, it may have been enlisting Christian Ripard over twenty years ago. Ripard participated in his 34th race this year, just one shy of the record held by the late Arthur Podesta. With such extensive experience, one might think he has seen it all. Not at all. “Each race has been different,” Ripard remarked, visibly shaken by the severity of the squall on the first afternoon. “I’ve never encountered such a storm in my entire life,” he said. “It occurred in an instant, and the boat broached so swiftly. It was the most challenging moment of the race, especially with the mast submerged.”
In IRC 4, the Podesta family’s connection to the race is profound. Arthur, the father of Aaron, Christoph, and Maya – co-skippers of Elusive 2 – raced in every edition from 1968 until his tragic passing in 2015. He introduced his children to the sport, instilling a passion that they’ve now embraced. “This means a lot to us; we feel compelled to participate,” Maya said. “We always strive to win our class and then hope for a favorable overall outcome. Our strategy is to consistently push the boat beyond 100%. It’s invigorating to see we’re competing alongside faster boats, which inspires us to give even more effort.” Maya’s partner, David Anastasi, is also a vital team member. The couple welcomed their second child just weeks before the race commenced. “It was always a tough decision to race this year,” stated Maya. “The more challenging choice was to stay at home. I felt torn, wanting to participate in the race. I owe thanks to my mother (Kristine); without her, we wouldn’t have been able to take part this year – she’s super mom!”
Aaron highlighted the importance of the team dynamic: “Mentally, this race was very demanding. The boat performed exceptionally well, and we’re proud of the collective effort and focus of the team,” he explained, referencing their special family bond. “Sailing with my siblings provides a natural connection, and I cherish spending those five days together, engaging in what we love most during each race.”
Class Action – 17:00 CEST, Thursday, 24 October
All podium results are provisional.
IRC 1
1. Balthasar
2. Lucky
3. Scallywag 100
IRC 2
1. Red Bandit
2. Teasing Machine
3. Kuka 3
IRC 3
Only two IRC 3 yachts remain on the course. Suka 2, a Pogo 40 owned by Michel Rivassou, is 30 miles from the South Comino Channel, while Heaven, a Pogo 44 skippered by Clair Reed & James Gallagher, is another 30 nautical miles behind. Neither seems poised to challenge the podium positions, leaving Long Courrier in first place, ahead of BeWild by 11.5 hours, with X-Day a further 40 minutes behind in third.
IRC 4
The Maltese First 45 Elusive 2 claimed class line honors and, provisionally, the class victory by a staggering eight and a half hours after IRC time correction. The First 53 Yagiza, helmed by Nikki Henderson, finished three hours after Elusive, securing second place. Marco & Isacco Cohen’s French MAT 12 Dajenu is currently in third position; however, there is an appeal from a competitor who assisted a stricken yacht on the first afternoon that may influence the final podium results.
IRC 5
Seb Ripard and Dan Calascione’s Maltese Farr 30 Calypso rounded Lampedusa just before sunset on Wednesday, 23rd October. The challenging conditions did not favor the Farr 30 against their nearest rival, Linda Goddard’s Australian Swan 53 Bedouin, which rounded Lampedusa 81 minutes later. Bedouin’s waterline length proved advantageous on the fetch to the South Comino Channel, with the majestic Swan overtaking Calypso only 26 miles from Comino to take Line Honors for IRC 5. Calypso is poised to be the apparent class winner after time correction, about five hours ahead of Bedouin, which remains a commendable second place finisher. The Maltese IMX 40 Geisha, skippered by Stefan Debattista & Sam O’Byrne, appears to have secured the battle for third place ahead of the Slovenian Elan 450 Karpo, helmed by Maks Vrecko.
IRC 6
Simon Toms’ Zephyr has emerged as the new leader in IRC 6. As the vessel approached Lampedusa, the British team found their rhythm and is rapidly closing in on the final leg back to Malta. The Sun Fast 3300 is currently 36 miles from the finish, holding a corrected time advantage of nearly two hours. The Australian 68-foot ketch El Ora, helmed by Kent King, sits in second place. A gripping contest for third is unfolding between two teams from the Jarhead Young Sailors program. The two J/109s, crewed by Maltese youth sailors, are neck-and-neck with 63 miles remaining. JYS Jan, skippered by Claudio Bugeja, is just ahead of Jarhead, helmed by Gary Mercieca; the two have been virtually side by side since Pantelleria.
IRC Double Handed
Marina 21 is the only competitor to have completed the course thus far. John and Tommy Ripard, aboard Lazy Duck, are 35 nautical miles from the South Comino Channel, while Francesco Cerina’s Sun Fast 3300 Alquimia is trailing by five miles.
Class 40
After leading the race for an extended period, Centrakor was edged out by Lucente by 10 minutes in a tightly contested class. Marvic40 finished in third place. Talanta is nearing the finish line, while Espoir is 30 nautical miles from the South Comino Channel.
Further details are available at www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
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