YA C H T S
It’s good to be back Filippo Massimo Lancellotti explains why he keeps coming back for the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
“The Royal Malta Yacht Club is a pleasant surprise – it’s a very professional setup and yet at the same time, all the members make you feel like you are important to them. This is a welcome change when compared to other international races where only top participants get attention.”
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n Saturday, October 20, Sciara will once again be at the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. It will be my 11th participation.
I first started sailing at the age of 50, looking for adventure – it was then that I learnt about the mythical Middle Sea Race. My first race was the Roma Per Tutti, which I undertook in a somewhat casual manner: it was great fun, but I tackled it with little preparation. My second race was the Middle Sea Race, which I entered together with a serious crew. The 2001 edition was the last prior to the Rolex era. It began with a furious north-easterly wind, the feared Grecale. I will never forget the majestic waves rolling under the shining full moon. I spent the night on deck watching, unable to sleep.
There were 18 participants – half of them sought shelter in Syracuse. On board the Loreli, we carried on – the boat was a strong Grand Soleil 46 and we finished fourth overall and first in class. That was my best ever performance at the Middle Sea Race. With the advent of Rolex, the number of participants soared – boats became more competitive and my best results became mid-range. But I didn’t mind – I just kept coming back. The Royal Malta Yacht Club is a pleasant surprise – it’s a very professional set-up and yet at the same time, all the members make you feel like you are important to them. This is a welcome change when compared to other international races where only top participants get attention.
The party thrown by the Royal Malta Yacht Club for crews has acquired a mythical status. A decade ago it was a smaller affair – crews mixed easily with club members and it was just great. Now there are two events – a large party prior to departure and a smaller and very enjoyable event after the race. In total, I have finished eight out of the 11 Middle Sea Races I participated in – we retired once for technical problems, once for lack of wind and once because of too much wind. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a difficult race. The most challenging part is perhaps from Malta to Messina – here, every tactical decision becomes crucial, like sailing along the coast or offshore, aiming for Sicily or Calabria, figuring out the currents in the Messina Strait.
SPINNAKER / Issue 30 - 33