MALTA and the middle sea race

How do I reduce the image of Malta into a few photographs? .

I was here for the Middle Sea race ( see the blog of the race :http://www.tripsailor.com/blogs/2667-blog-rolex-middle-sea-race-2009) and had to try to stay focused on that. Even preparing the boat as the sun moved across the sky my impressions of Malta were ever changing.
I never was able to see more of the island country than going to and from the boat, which left me yearning to see and understand more.



MIDDLE SEA RACE 2009






The 2009 version of the Middle Sea Race is done and dusted as the English are apt to say. I sailed on a 61 foot X-yacht called “Nix” under charter to Bugs Baer, with whom I had sailed the 2005 Trans-atlantic race. As in 2005 I came aboard not knowing any of the crew; and left with new friends.

On Thursday before the race, the entire crew spent the entire day without a stop emptying the boat of as much excess weigh as we could. It amounted to a considerable amount. Friday, we had a crew practice, as we had never sailed together before. We hit 16.5 knots, a new record for the boat. I do not think we went faster than 14.5 knots during the race itself.

The 606 mile race starts in the Grand Harbour of Malta, heading for the south eastern tip of Corsica, northward through the Straits of Messina. From there rounding Stromboli to port, the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands, the South Comino Channel, keeping Malta to starboard, to the finish line in Marsamxett Harbour. We finished the race in 3 days 20 hours and 54 minutes. I suspect that if “Nix” had been weighed, her rating would be considerably lower, and our results would have been improved.
77 Yachts entered and 37 withdrew largely because of the severe weather. Starting October 17, the water is still quite warm; this can produce small violent squalls. We encountered a few. These squalls can be seen on radar, but not always avoidable. We even had hail, the size of grapes, others reported hail the size of golf balls. “Rosebud” the 65 footer lost her mast, and “Belle Mente” withdrew.
I took photographs when I was able, and will post them at a later date. Of no less importance and a visual overload is Malta itself. One can stand in one place and in the course of the day the view will change, the light, the shadows, the perspectives created by the centuries of building. The history of Malta is familiar to almost everyone, but to see it is remarkable. There are churches everywhere, each more beautiful than the previous.

26 years ago in 12 meter history

The New York Yacht Club lost the America’s Cup 26 years ago this September. Change is always troubling for anyone. I have always regarded this event as: the right thing happened for all the wrong reasons.

Change is inevitable, we all know, but all resist nonetheless. This was one of those occasions. It breathed new life into the Cup life.



what’s next for six meters in Newport?

What will happen next season with the six meter class in Newport? Will it wither? Will it limp along with a few boats?Will it flourish; with some boats choosing to remain here and race?

Seattle has long been a stronghold of Six Meter sailing; with an active class. Europe has and will likely remain the most active environment for six and eight meters as well.
The survival of any class depends on the strength and commitment of the people involved.


12 meter prize giving

A rainy day in Newport,for the awarding of prizes for the 12 meter world championship as well as the north american championship. The final day of the” legends” forum. full of recognizable faces of those who have contributed not only to the America’s cup but sailing as a whole.

Next week the twelve meters will sail in North Harbor on the Hudson in New York City, for those who were not able to view them sailing here in Newport.

12 meter world championship day one


The first day of racing started almost on time, the wind at 6-8 knots at 11 am, building to 15-18 knots in the afternoon with relatively flat seas. The racing was tight, in some cases three boats crossing the line overlapped. Three races were completed, which always makes a race committee happy, creating a cushion in the event of bad weather.

Once more I am indebted to my good friend Jimmy Gubelmann for inviting me out to watch the racing.


12 meter world championship

Tomorrow is the first day of racing for the 2009 world championship for 12 meters. Unfortunately there are no boats from outside the United States; in fact all the boats are from Newport. The 12 meter class is an ISAF class and guided by the regulations of ISAF. It is unfortunate that participation is down,it may give the winner a sense of a hollow victory.



1st NYYC Invitational Cup

Invited out on Jimmy Gubelmann’s lovely Huckins “Mahubas” to watch the final day of racing for the swan 42 club boats. 19 countries represented. close sailing; the NYYC entry Phil Lotz won by sailing very consistently.

The wind has been out of the north more days in a row than I can remember.
I was also struck by the fact that the race committee was much kinder with this fleet despite a number of general recalls, no black flags.

six meter world championships final day

This Nor’ Easter just will not move away. Another day of racing with NE winds, at least in or near our wind range.

We only had one race although two were scheduled.
I hope the people who travelled so far to come to Newport enjoyed themselves.
I have never in my life sailed a regatta where all but one start was under a black flag.
“Madcap” ended the regatta in third place in our division, probably about where we should be in the conditions in which we sailed.