Three days until the start of the 39th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, in which 149 boats will cross the starting line in Valletta, in Malta, on Saturday 20th October at 11.00 am (9.00 am UTC).
Maserati Multi 70 will face 5 other teams in the MOCRA category; among them the direct rival PowerPlay(former Concise 10), Peter Cunningham’s English MOD 70 skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield.
“We met PowerPlay’s crew, we are very happy that they came in the Mediterranean to participate in this regatta together” says skipper Giovanni Soldini. “After this race we agreed to continue with the same programme, with the RORC Transatlantic Race in November and the RORC Caribbean 600 in February, alongside other MOD 70s, making the regattas more competitive and fun”.
Maserati Multi 70’s Team is finishing up the last preparations for the race. During the delivery to Malta the solent’s hook – which secures the sail to the mast – got damaged. The substitute piece already got replaced in record time, so the Italian trimaran is ready to go out to train with the direct rival PowerPlay.
Along with the skipper, Giovanni Soldini on board of Maserati Multi 70 there will be a crew of 7 people:
The Rolex Middle Sea Race, organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, is celebrating this year its 50th anniversary since its first edition in 1968. The regatta’s 606 miles route is sailed anti-clockwise around Sicily, passing North of Stromboli, West of Favignana and Pantelleria and South of Lampedusa, before heading back to the finish line in Valletta.
The speed record is held by George David who, in 2007, crossed the finish line aboard Rambler, maxi 27-meters-long monohull, in 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.
The multihull category (MOCRA) record time was set by Maserati Multi 70 which, in 2016, completed the regatta in first place in 49 hours, 25 minutes and 1 second.
The challenge is supported by Maserati, the main sponsor that gives the name to the trimaran and Aon as co-sponsor, along with the official supplier for the clothing, Ermenegildo Zegna.
A special thanks also to Boero Bartolomeo S.p.A. and Garmin Marine.