SKIPPER OCTOBER 2014 ISSUE 7

ISSUE 7 - OCTOBER 2014

ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE INTERVIEW: PETER VALENTINO

ROUND BRITAIN AND IRELAND SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW

SOLARIS YACHTS

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EDITOR’S NOTE Every week, I meet up with a group of friends for a game of five-a-side football. There's no trophy or medal at the end of the game: we just do it - excuse the pun - for the kicks.

And yet, the competitive spirit is still there.

We do it for a bit of exercise and a few out-ofbreath laughs. But most of all, we do it to win.

In our interview with international judge and true man of the sea Peter Valentino, he echoes the same sentiment. When asked whether he prefers cruising or racing, his answer is simple and honest: "Even when I'm out cruising with friends, I always end up racing." His reasoning is that since sailing is a matter of using the force of the wind and the sea to your advantage, then why shouldn't you get the best out of your boat, even when simply cruising?

In this issue of Skipper, we celebrate this competitive spirit by focusing on the main race in the local racing calendar: the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Pit Finis has already raced the RMSR twice - in 2012, he even won the IRC (B) class. However, for him, this year will be different as he will do it with Wouter Roos double-handed on board Dralion.

Andy Middleton is another RMSR veteran, having already raced it six times. In his interview with Skipper, he talks about building a team spirit and the preparations that go into an RMSR campaign.

In this issue of Skipper, we also meet Brian Flahive and Liam Coyne. This year, the two raced the tough Royal Ocean Racing Club Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race and, against all odds, won two RORC classes and finished fifth overall.

While wishing all RMSR participants the best of luck and fair weather, we hope that you enjoy this issue of Skipper.

CONTENTS 10 A COACH FOR THE RACE

35 A LIFE AT SEA

Andy Middleton of Global Yacht Racing Ltd. is offering people the opportunity to race the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board Scarlet Oyster.

International judge Peter Valentino discusses his childhood days at Haywharf, his competitive spirit, and judging 250 events in 28 nations.

14 A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

41 AN ITALIAN VICTORY

Jamie Sammut is racing the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board Unica.

Skipper relives the highlights of the 2013 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

18 WHAT A SHOW

45 ROUND BRITAIN AND IRELAND

Strong sales, thousands of visitors and world-class premieres were recorded at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

23 PROTECTING OUR SEAS They’re not just in it for the race. Dr Adriana Vella and Dr Joseph Vella explain how the Rolex Middle Sea Race crews help the ongoing scientific cetacean research conducted by the Biological Conservation Research Foundation.

28 A FIRST FOR MALTA Now in its ninth year, the RC44 Class has announced two new venues for the 2015 Championship Tour. One of the new venues is Malta. The RC44 Valletta Cup is an exciting event featuring high performance boats and some of the best sailors in the world, says Niki Travers Tauss.

No double-handed boat had ever finished the tough Royal Ocean Racing Club Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Until this year, when Brian Flahive and Liam Coyne endured the 1802Nm non-stop course and triumphed against all odds.

53 LET THE RACE BEGIN Skipper gets ready for the Volvo Ocean Race.

58 WIRED AT SEA Skipper reviews the latest gadgets that make your life on board that little bit easier.

60 A WINNING WARDROBE Skipper prepares for autumn with fashion line honours.

62 SQUID PRO QUO Get inked with Mona Farrugia’s calamari stuffed with fresh seafood.

Skipper is exclusively distributed at the Mgarr, Kalkara and Portomaso marinas. Our partner marinas are Creek, Grand Harbour and Manoel Island marinas.

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4 - Skipper / Issue 07

TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM. IN 1993, THE AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE CHANGED THE WORLD OF THE SPORTS WATCH FOREVER. NOW THE 2014 COLLECTION MOVES THE GAME ON ONCE MORE; THE 22 CARAT GOLD OSCILLATING MASS SEEN THROUGH THE SAPPHIRE CASEBACK, A WINDOW ONTO 139 YEARS OF HOROLOGICAL MASTERY.

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WELCOME There's an air of anticipation along the Ta' Xbiex waterfront. Everyone has a purposeful walk. Crews are busy on their boats. Others are in groups, looking up at the sky, as if trying to anticipate what the weather will be like in the next few days. Even the sea itself seems to be waiting for something.

Across the water and on the other side of Valletta, the Grand Harbour is as busy as ever.

Cruise liners come and go. Tourists pose for a picture-perfect memory. And office workers look up at the Valletta skyline, feeling lucky that their route to work is an architectural wonder.

And the pigeons at the Upper Barrakka gardens perform impossible tricks on the narrowest of perches. They will soon take scared flight, however, as the cannons from the saluting battery thunder the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

The RMSR has grown in stature since the first edition. The Rolex sponsorship and the uniqueness of the course have attracted an increasing number of participants. Last

year, for the second year running, we had a record-breaking fleet - 99 yachts, up from 82 entrants in 2012 - participating in this classic offshore. This year, we're hoping to reach and exceed the 100 mark.

Further proof of the RMSR's popularity is the increasing number of repeat participants.

Nowadays, it's fairly common to find crews who have raced the RMSR five times and more.

We never tire of the RMSR. It's a magical course: 606Nm of tactical racing along the historic bastions of Valletta, volcanoes, the tricky Strait of Messina, and the story-telling Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, it's a celebration of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

I wish all participants fair weather and an enjoyable race.

Georges Bonello DuPuis

Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

Editor Anthony P. Bernard Email: anthony@becommunications.com Consulting Editor Stanley Borg Email: stanley@becommunications.com Consulting (Sailing/Boating) Editor Georges Bonello DuPuis Design Roderick Peresso Design Studio www.peresso.com Printing Progress Press Distribution Mailbox Direct Marketing Group For advertising contact Be Communications on 2134 2155 or skipper@becommunications.com

Skipper is published by BE Communications Ltd. 37, Amery Street, Sliema, SLM 1702 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in Skipper are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor and publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations.

Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome but cannot be returned without a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The editor is not responsible for material submitted for consideration.

Francesco de Angelis calling tactics on B2, winner of the 2013 RMSR. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

6 - Skipper / Issue 07

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RMSR

A COACH FOR THE RACE Andy Middleton of Global Yacht Racing Ltd. is offering people the opportunity to race the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board Scarlet Oyster.

Dralion

Scarlet Oyster at the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race. Photo: Rolex/Daniel Forster.

What first attracted you to sailing?

I started sailing as a young boy with my father who was a keen amateur and selftaught yachtsman. We had a series of small 18 to 24-foot keelboats and we sailed around the East coast of England, running aground in all sorts of fascinating places. Anyone who has sailed around Malden, Bradwell and Burnham-on-Crouch can attest to the fact that there is a lot of mud there.

Andy Middleton

10 - Skipper / Issue 07

I guess that it was during these family weekends that I got the sailing bug.

Although we didn't go in for club sailing or racing at that time - I didn't go into a marina until I was 24 - my love affair with the sea had begun.

Why did you decide to move into the race yacht charter business?

I started sailing for a living when I was 29, after a particularly difficult year in New Zealand (women troubles!). Once again it was my father who set me on the road suggesting I got my Yachtmaster ticket and I then got a job doing something I loved.

After seven years working as a full-time instructor and eventually running a yachting programme for a well-known training and career provider in Australia, I decided to set up my own business with my partner Claire. In 2004 I saw a niche in the market for a business to offer top class racing opportunities sailing on race yachts instead of the usual sailing

Andy Middleton at the 2008 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

school and training boats that often dragged around at the back of the fleet.

Since then we've entered pretty much every major offshore event around the world with amateur paying crew including the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Rolex Sydney Hobart, Newport Bermuda, Rolex Fastnet, ARC Transatlantic and also nearly every major regatta in the UK and Caribbean, often with podium results.

Your first competitive racing event: what do you remember about it?

My first competitive race event as Global Yacht Racing was Cowes Week 2004 in

the UK which was an exciting one albeit pretty low key as we were still establishing ourselves. The first real gig we entered was the Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2004, the 50th race and a pretty wet and wild affair.

Both Claire and I realised quite early on that running a business is a lot tougher than you think: no matter how hard you think you work for someone else you can double that when you do it for yourself.

On the bright side we finished the race, had happy customers and Claire agreed to marry me when we got engaged watching the fireworks on New Year's Eve at Constitution Dock in Hobart.

"IT'S WHAT I DO AND I DO IT WELL: FORGING A TEAM IN A FEW DAYS, KEEPING THAT TEAM TOGETHER, PUSHING HARD FOR THE RACE AND GETTING THE BEST OUT OF THE CREW AND THE YACHT."

This will be your seventh Rolex Middle Sea Race.

What keeps you coming back for more?

The RMSR is my favourite event. I used to flip between the Hobart and RMSR as the Hobart is spectacular at the start: however, nothing can compare to passing active volcanoes, stunning scenery and unpredictable conditions. This makes for a beautiful and challenging race.

When we came second in 2007. I think those were some of the toughest sailing conditions I've ever encountered. The Royal Malta Yacht Club puts on a fantastic show too: the Commodore and staff are excellent and they really care about what they do from the perspective of the club and the country. Of all the events I've done around the world, this is the best organised and presented.

Many of the other international events could learn from this one.

You are familiar with the RMSR course. What, for you, are the highlights and the challenges?

Where do I start? Well the race start then! Where else do you start a 600Nm offshore race inside a medieval walled city? It's fantastic, hard work because of the limited space and difficult wind, but truly awesome. The volcanoes and the stunning scenery are of course a huge part of the race.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 11

RMSR

The challenges are there. Tactics for the Strait of Messina always feature highly but the real tough part is the top of Sicily: left or right? Offshore or straight line? Where will the wind be best?

What do preparations for the RMSR involve?

Our preparations for the race will be the same for most of the other yachts, perhaps more extreme as we are sailing from the UK to Malta and arriving around a week prior to the start.

This means that we have to make sure the yachts are in great shape before we set off from the UK and do our best to fix anything before the start. I guess the teams from Italy, for instance, face similar issues although they don't have so far to come.

The biggest challenge for us is our crew: they are people who have paid to join us and come from varied backgrounds and sailing abilities.

Some of them will have sailed with us before on different events and different yachts, often many of them will be new customers and none of us have sailed together as a team yet. This is where I 'earn my money'. It's what I do and I do it well: forging a team in a few days, keeping that team together, pushing hard for the race and getting the best out of the crew and the yacht. Of course I don't sleep much but you can't have everything.

The fact that you will be sailing with a new crew must involve an element of coaching: what aspects of the RMSR will you focus on?

Our main focus with crew coaching is to make sure we have the key roles on board covered: foredeck is always important, sail trim and helmsmen also play key roles. We don't know what we have to work with until the week before but generally we find a role that suits most people.

Apart from teaching the actual racing skills, the main drive is to motivate the crew to push hard 24 hours a day, during watch changes and during the dark hours. Maintaining speed and focus at night and in the light stuff are key: it's where races are won and lost. And it's on us, Ross Applebey, Scarlet Oyster owner, and I to keep pushing this ourselves and identify the 'fiddlers', the crew members who are keen to keep an eye on the speed and the polars and are never satisfied with what they have. They are often not the best or most experienced guys on board but they are our invaluable watchdogs.

What transforms a group of paying individuals into a competitive crew?

Motivation and desire. People will come sailing with us for many reasons: opportunity, to have

Andy Middleton at the 2007 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

12 - Skipper / Issue 07

fun, price, bucket list or a desire to race to win. It's on us the skippers to forge all those reasons into a drive to do well and do the best for each other. No one wants to come fourth instead of third and miss out on a podium for the sake of a few minutes, or a few bad tacks or few hours of sailing below polar which is really what those few minutes are.

It's very possible to race hard to the best of your ability no matter what level that is and still have a huge amount of fun. Neither Ross nor I are 'shouters'. We have big egos of course, otherwise we wouldn't do what we do.

But we also want our clients to have a great time, feel they have done their best and most importantly come back for more.

Scarlet Oyster has excellent pedigree: what makes it a contender for victory in the RMSR? Scarlet Oyster is a great yacht, Ross has done wonders on the handicap, something I rib him about when I race against him on EH01. With a lot of knowledge and skill he has taken a cruising yacht and made it very quick. Ross knows his boat like the back of his hand and his sailing skills combined with my experience of seven previous RMSR races and extensive experience with novice crew, we make, I hope, a formidable team.

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RMSR

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Dralion

Jamie Sammut is racing the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board Unica.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race start: what are your adrenalin levels at that point?

The start is a thrilling part of the RMSR. Right before the start, the adrenalin levels are soaring. After all the weeks of preparation and training, everyone is just raring to go. However, we don’t let the adrenalin blind us because the start is also very tactical. We will also be on the lookout to see where the other classes made their exit from the Grand Harbour and their approach to the second buoy.

I’ve always been excited at the prospect of racing the RMSR on board my own boat. It’s not a question of calling the shots: after all, on board Unica, this is a team effort based on discussion. I guess it’s a matter of having it on my CV.

You have raced on various boats, including Aziza, Jaru, Strait Dealer, Blue Diamond and Horatio.

What made you decide to race your own boat?

But that’s the element of luck in the RMSR. True, you need the experience, talent and tactical wisdom: however, I would say that half

14 - Skipper / Issue 07

Unica is a fairly new boat. How did it do last year?

We did very well and kept up with our competition until halfway. Then we got stuck in a hole for eight hours: that was very frustrating.

of the RMSR is all down to luck. You might get stuck without any breeze but the boats around you will have the wind in their favour.

What improvements have you carried out since last year?

Last year we had a good set-up and we didn’t feel the need to do a lot of improvements for this year’s race. However, while last year we didn’t have much time to train, this year, we’re getting the boat down two weeks before the race: that will give us a good opportunity to train.

Since last year’s RMSR, we also had the

Skipper / Issue 07 - 15

RMSR

“TRUE, YOU NEED THE EXPERIENCE, TALENT AND TACTICAL WISDOM: HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT HALF OF THE RMSR IS ALL DOWN TO LUCK.” opportunity to race Unica four times. We also won the IRC Racer Class 1 of the Gewiss Marzamemi Regatta 2014.

Who are the rest of the crew?

The Unica crew will be made up of myself together with Matthew Fiorini Lowell, Anthony Demajo, Alan Sammut, Joe Vassallo, Alex Sant Fournier, Chris Fenech, John Cachia and Nicky Sammut.

Which are the trickiest parts of the RMSR course?

The tricky bits are all weather related. I would say Stromboli and the Strait of Messina are the most difficult parts of the race and leave many victims trailing behind.

16 - Skipper / Issue 07

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WHAT A SHOW The PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

Strong sales, thousands of visitors and world-class premieres were recorded at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

Photos: onEdition 2014 The Princess stand at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

A

s the 2014 PSP Southampton Boat Show drew to a close on Sunday, September 21, over 112,000 people had enjoyed a real festival of boating.

Exhibitors and visitors alike made the most of the improving economy and glorious weather throughout the 10 days.

Strong sales were reported throughout the whole duration of the show, with the very first sale of a boat being made by 10.30am on the opening day. Many companies reported equalling last year's total sales by mid-week this year.

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"The PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014 has been a great success", said Murray Ellis, Managing Director, National Boat Shows.

"More than 10,000 visitors got out on the water, families enjoyed a ride on the Boat Show Eye and boaters bought everything from canoes to multi-million pound yachts. The weather has been glorious and spirits have been high, once again confirming the PSP Southampton Boat Show as one of the world's leading boat shows.

"The show kicked off in style on the first day with TV star Matt Baker arriving on board one

of the show's star attractions, the tall ship Phoenix, accompanied by Iain Percy OBE and ambassadors from the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. We've been delighted to have the foundation as the show's official charity and so pleased to be able to join in with the worldwide Bart's Bash event on the show's final day."

"We have found the show much more positive than last year and our new stand location has been excellent," said Ben Metcalfe, Managing Director, Landau UK. "We met last year's figures by day seven of the show. It's a show we will continue to do. It's very positive for

The battle of the classes, ahead of Bart's Bash at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

The Sunseeker 28-metre yacht motor yacht Autumn at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2014.

the marine industry and it's good for the local area. A contract to carry out maintenance and repair work to military boats, confirmed at show, will result in taking on up to 19 new engineers and office staff."

Boat Show and it has exceeded all our expectations. The level of interest, from both new and returning customers, for British hand-built products is high with visitors appreciating quality."

"It has been a cracking show for us," said Graham Brown, Managing Director, SeaSure Limited. "We have some of the most expensive products with everything being custom made and of the highest quality, yet we have sold every model on display with orders for everything seen on our stand.

This is our first time at PSP Southampton

"Fairline has enjoyed another great show in Southampton this year, with lots of enthusiasm for the brand," said Stuart McCullough, Commercial Director, Fairline Boats. "We have seen a steady stream of orders throughout the show and our new 48foot range has continued to prove especially popular with visitors. Following on from a

very successful Cannes Yachting Festival, we are delighted with the results we have seen. The PSP Southampton Boat Show is an important event for us and the beautiful weather has made being here especially enjoyable this year. We are now gearing up for the London Boat Show and looking forward to an exciting year ahead for Fairline."

The show has once again been an important venue for the British Marine Federation.

Fifty-five apprentices were celebrated at the BMF's graduation event, receiving their certificates from Sir Ben Ainslie.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 19

Hayley James, Head of Member Relations at British Marine Federation, said that, “From a membership perspective the PSP Southampton Boat Show has been fantastic – we’ve signed up double the number of members we did last year and we’ve got some great leads to follow up on. But the show isn’t just a recruitment drive for the BMF, it is a chance to meet existing members and build relationships to ultimately deliver better value to our strong membership of over 1550.

It’s one of the best trade shows in the world, within a consumer show.”

“Over the last 10 days at Southampton, we have clearly noticed an uplift in the market,” said Jean Francois Lair, Beneteau Export Manager. “The sales figures are up, and all our dealers are reporting a stronger interest compared to last year. In this improved market, we are pleased to announce that Beneteau will return to the London Boat Show in January 2015. We will be strongly represented with all our different products: sailing yachts, outboard and inboard boats, including the MC5, 2014 European Boat of the Year.

Phoenix arriving into the Marina, dwarfed by the modern Adventure Of The Seas cruise ship.

Following the launch of London Boat Show 2015 and its new creative with its dramatic imagery, exhibitors are quickly

signing up to take space at the world-class event. Beneteau, with its sailing yachts and outboard and inboard boats, is leading the way after a three-year absence.

Solent Whisper, foiling catamaran. Designed by Ron Price, Warsash Maritime Academy, at Southampton Solent University.

BOAT SHOWS

Bart's Bash, organised by the Andrew Simpson Sailing foundation, set up in memory of British sailing gold medallist Andrew "Bart" Simpson, who died during training for the America's Cup.

20 - Skipper / Issue 07

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MARINE LIFE

PROTECTING OUR SEAS Loggerhead turtle. Photo: Dr Adriana Vella.

They're not just in it for the race. Dr Adriana Vella and Dr Joseph Vella explain how the Rolex Middle Sea Race crews help the ongoing scientific cetacean research conducted by the Biological Conservation Research Foundation.

What level of protection do cetaceans enjoy in Malta's territorial waters?

Although all cetacean species (dolphins and whales) are legally protected on paper, there is still much that needs to be done to effectively protect cetaceans and the rest of the marine life in our seas. Legal protection usually entails the responsibility of having regular and financially supported monitoring of cetacean species, so as to check the success of policies put in place for their conservation. Awareness is also important and BICREF has really worked hard toward this too.

Which cetacean species are endangered?

Most cetacean species are in danger of decline as synergistic human impacts

increase in their habitats. In particular common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) Mediterranean subpopulations have also been categorised as endangered in the Mediterranean. Regular monitoring and sustained research is essential to rate the level of risks of decline through time in our region of the Mediterranean.

What are the main cetacean conservation challenges?

Without a doubt the main cetacean conservation challenges include improved policies and enforcement of conservation legislations; the real set-up of conservation management strategies which include long-

Skipper / Issue 07 - 23

MARINE LIFE

The common dolphin. Photo taken by the Nigno crew during the RMSR 2011 as contribution to ongoing BICREF monitoring.

term monitoring; and the adaptation of policies according to the results of such monitoring.

With long-lived and elusive species such as these, it is not easy to assess the needs and levels of risks of each species. The marine environment is also changing rather fast with more traffic, pollution (chemical, physical, noise and light pollution), climate change effects, and over-exploitation of natural resources. This means that unless rigorous scientific research is undertaken regularly, it is easy to find that management based on superficial knowledge would not lead to the desired conservation target.

In recent years, has awareness about the importance of such conservation increased?

For this reason, local cetacean conservation research, which was started in 1997 by Dr Adriana Vella, Ph.D (Cambridge), Conservation Biologist at the University of Malta, was aimed to be a long-term effort. Fortunately this scientific research attracted citizen science contribution as well.

BICREF works as a voluntary non-profit organisation to assist research and promote awareness of the needs of cetacean species in our waters. This entails understanding

24 - Skipper / Issue 07

the biodiversity and relationships between biological systems and the human activities too. The latter have both positive and negative effects on nature and cetaceans.

When was the first BICREF Award organised and with what aims?

As part of BICREF's efforts to promote the presence of the different species of cetaceans in this part of the Mediterranean, the BICREF-Rolex Middle Sea Race Award for the Best Cetacean Sighting Reports was set-up in 2000 in collaboration with the Royal Malta Yacht Club. This project invited all participating RMSR crews to contribute by taking accurate records of the sightings of all cetacean species during the whole stretch of the race.

This was indeed a challenge that saw and still sees real crew members consider more than just the waves and wind during this race but also the spirit of the sea itself represented by dolphins and whales.

Ignoring what they represent and what they contribute to reflects lack of consideration for marine life altogether. Cetaceans are considered flagship and umbrella species.

Their healthy presence reflects the health of the marine ecosystem too.

What value do the sightings reported during the RMSR add to your research?

Though ongoing local cetacean research has been undertaking the demanding task of studying these species throughout the year and for many years, the contributions from sea-users are also useful. In particular, the RMSR contributes due to its long and wellestablished track, thus providing valuable data that may be linked to specific spatial and temporal parameters.

The success of this contribution lies in the hands of each crew and the value given to such a challenge. Will our race be just a race through space or will it be a race through space and nature? Some participants have been really enthusiastic in their contributions and have shown us that there is no difference between age or sex on how effective such contribution can be if there is the will to do so.

BICREF puts a lot of time and energy in preparing the adapted fill-up forms for participants to read just before leaving for the race and then filling-up properly during the race to finally stress the importance of immediate return of these filled-up folders to the RMYC or BICREF members. For this reason even mobile numbers and e-mails are supplied

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MARINE LIFE

"CREW MEMBERS CONSIDER MORE THAN JUST THE WAVES AND WIND DURING THIS RACE BUT ALSO THE SPIRIT OF THE SEA ITSELF REPRESENTED

BY DOLPHINS AND WHALES."� to make it easier for any crew arriving to port to contact and talk to BICREF members about the race's experience in this new dimension.

Apart from scientific cetacean research which allows for the study of associated species too such as turtles, seabirds and rays, she has developed research on marine biodiversity conservation around our coasts as much as offshore considering fisheries and fishermen. She has also developed new tools to understand biodiversity which also includes molecular genetics applied to understand the relationships and structure of populations enabling better conservation strategies.

Conservation research also necessitates an understanding of human activities and investigating what is sustainable and what is not. This has kept Dr Vella and members of her research group in close contact with people considering Maltese heritage and aspirations to see local wild species provide goods, services and inspire us all to safeguard our natural capital.

What further knowledge is needed to enhance conservation efforts?

If this data is supplied by every or most participants, there would be interesting outputs that may be used as an indication of how cetacean presence is changing through time at that specific time of the year. Of course this data would complement ongoing long-term research efforts around the Maltese islands too, so the former would mean little without the latter. The RMSR crews have an opportunity to contribute toward our greater understanding of some aspects of these species, which often come to encourage and energise the RMSR participants during their race.

What other entities or individuals assist you in your research?

BICREF has both local and foreign volunteers which in turn also work with research members of the Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Malta.

These entities have always been open to assist and collaborate with genuine entities seeking to improve the local, regional or global conservation efforts. In fact BICREF and the CBRG-UoM are also partners of the regional agreement to protect cetaceans, ACCOBAMS and Dr Vella has also been national contact person for the European Cetacean Society for many years. These and many other efforts by Dr Vella and her teams have placed Maltese cetacean research on the map and has also contributed to attract the European Cetacean Society Conference to Malta in 2015.

What other projects and research do you undertake?

Dr Adriana Vella has developed various other projects that did not exist before in Malta.

Apart from other entities such as the AFM, Maritime Section of Transport Malta, the RMYC, fishermen, and various sea-users who have

Bottlenose dolphin. Photo: Dr Adriana Vella.

been assisting in various ways, BICREF obtains kind assistance by entities that are ready to cover the financial costs of local research and awareness efforts. These include Vodafone who gave a grant for the production of the award winning one-hour documentary Waves of Life and Vascas, who sponsored the take-home trophy of the 2014 BICREF-RMSR Award.

For more information contact Dr Adriana Vella and Dr Joseph Vella at the Biological Conservation Research Foundation, PO Box 30, Hamrun or on bicref@gmail.com.

You can also visit: www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/rmyc/bicref/ and www.bicref.org

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RACING

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A FIRST FOR MALTA Now in its ninth year, the RC44 Class has announced two new venues for the 2015 Championship Tour. One of the new venues is Malta. The RC44 Valletta Cup is an exciting event featuring high performance boats and some of the best sailors in the world, says Niki Travers Tauss.

What inspired you to organise the RC44 Valletta Cup Malta?

More than being inspired, I was and clearly still am very motivated. I will remain so.

that mainly caters for high calibre events like Formula 1, RC44 events and the America’s Cup. I also knew that for years the RC44 Class had shown interest in running an event in Malta.

The RC44 Valletta Cup falls in a category of events that are almost always organised by an enterprise rather than a sailing club. One of my partners, Dr Christian Farrugia happened to meet Richard Henry, who runs an insurance company

Given this information and together with the background I have, I thought it would be a feasible project. It didn’t take us too long to reach the decision to go forward and organise the event once we had the right team players on board.

28 - Skipper / Issue 07

What logistical efforts does the organisation of this race involve?

This is what we’re seeing to right now. I understand that the draft the boat’s architect had was to create a fast, light and modern boat that could easily be moved around the globe.

The boat is 44 feet long – however the bow and the scoop dismantle to make it possible for a hull to fit on a flat rack container. Each team travels with two containers: one that carries the boat and the other for all the equipment the crew may need.

So far that’s the easy bit. The last event for 2014 will be held in Oman and soon after we expect that the boats will be shipped to Malta immediately after. At that point we’ll be three and a half months away from March 24, which is practice day. We’ll receive the boats, place them in a safe compound and

from that point on we expect teams to fly out to Malta periodically to train. This means that we’ll identify the containers, take these to the technical area, and arrange for the cranes to be available. Then it’s up to the teams to sail and prepare for the event.

this sort of racing is a source of rejuvenation and excitement and a way to meet up with other owners and in some cases business rivals.

Considering that we’re expecting 12 teams the logistical effort required is complex and demanding. These are costly boats that come with demanding and excellent sailors on board. Luckily I too am demanding: I expect the very best and my team and I are well prepared for this challenge.

Besides, events are run in some of the most spectacular locations in the world. They only race five events per year – but they’re distinct events. The race officer and umpire team travel with the class from venue to venue and yet again, all officials in the RC44 Class are indeed the finest. This is the only way in which consistency can be reflected. The events have a large media following while the hospitality that will revolve around the RC44 Valletta Cup is set to be second to none. It’s not just about the actual sailing and results: it’s also about what happens ashore, around the dinners and bar.

Launched just seven years ago, the RC44 Championship Tour has established itself as a key international series. What are the ingredients that make this series so attractive?

First of all, the Class is led by the very best and most famous sailor in the world. The crew members of each team include Olympic sailors and medallists. These are not ordinary people: they’re special. The owners are all highly successful businessmen who make significant decisions daily and their financial results are staggering. They’re busy people and to them

What highlights and challenges does the local course present?

Malta is one of the best places to sail. We’re anchored in what is the wind factory of the Mediterranean. Our sea is statistically the second cleanest in the Med. The East coast, which is our main racing area, is not terribly deep, which means that laying our marks will not be a difficult task. Of course we have made arrangements for professional mark layers to help out. We intend finishing a few races in Sliema Creek or in Marsamxett. The press could get a few good

Approximately two weeks prior to the event we’ll transport all containers to the technical area, which means that we need two cranes, not one.

pictures of the boats entering harbour under sail and everyone can enjoy the spectacle.

We do have challenges, but I think we can comfortably deal with those. The only real challenge that will be a source of concern will be the wind that blows from the North East. All we need is a clean 18-knot North Westerly from March 24-29.

What are the main design elements of the RC44 that make it high performance?

Sailing an RC44 is like being on a high-speed train! Joking apart, a look at the boat on paper is enough to understand that it’s indeed a racing machine. You can’t take the family out to swim or sail and you can’t go fishing on this: it’s simply a fast racing boat.

The 44-foot long hull is of carbon fibre and the keel draws three metres. The mast weighs just 120kg and the boat’s gross weight is 3,600kg.

Almost 3,000kg are in the keel. That’s what science, design, knowledge and, yes, a bit of money can present you with. Place a few good hands and minds on deck and you’re off for a thrill. Humming carbon fibre resonating under stress, the creaking of the mast, the sheer acceleration as soon as wind picks up: it’s a phenomenal experience.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 29

RACING

The RC44 also attracts some of the world’s best crew.

Have the crews racing in Malta been confirmed?

I’m not in a position to answer this in its entirety at this time. The Class expect and have informed us that we ought to have 12 boats in attendance – however we can only be certain of this in November. We understand that another two boats are being built and that if they’re ready in time their maiden race will be the Valletta Cup, so a possible 14.

The crew members are the heart and soul of each boat. These are people the average club racer only sees on magazines or Sailing TV. Few of these have sailed in Malta before and the ones who did would have raced the Rolex Middle Sea Race. We’re looking forward to welcoming them to Malta. You’d be surprised how many actually never heard of Malta as a regatta destination. I plan to change that together with my team and Yachting Events.

What should they expect from the RC44 Valletta Cup? Chronologically they will expect to hear that the boats arrived safely and that they’re stored properly. They expect us to provide an excellent technical area. This is their workshop where they can assemble the boats and get them ready to race. They will certainly expect good wide berths and the assistance they’re used to. They’re not overly demanding – they’re precise. From then on with a wellcoordinated event and marks properly laid, it’s up to nature and the wind.

Yes they anticipate to race their normal

30 - Skipper / Issue 07

windward/leeward course and we’ll give them plenty of those. However no regatta is complete in Malta without sailing a coastal race. Again it all depends on the wind and sea conditions – however we have negotiated with the Class to include a round Comino race. Of course they’re only human – and they too can do with warm hospitality – which we know Malta will be generous with.

Sailing and yacht services are a growing niche economy – what spill over effect does it have on other sectors of the local economy?

The economy is set to benefit and it’s easy to understand how. Taking averages, you have 12 boats, 12 owners, eight crew members for every team together with land-based crew and guests.

The majority of owners run huge businesses and are responsible for the jobs of thousands of people. Most of the owners will fly in on private jets, which they may very well fly back out during the week to collect their guests. We expect that some will bring their superyachts in tow. These act as their floating office.

We asked the Class what the event would leave.

The reply was that it was hard to quantify – however a good measure based on averages would total to the dashing sum of €1.2 to €1.5

million. Taking into consideration that the boats will be shipped to Malta three months prior to the event only means that indeed more money will be left in Malta. We know, for instance that two owners have decided to spray their boats and undergo a maintenance programme in Malta. This is what the economy needs. The total spend on this will be higher than what a plane full of tourists on a low cost carrier will bring, and without polluting the air and our environment. Just consider the hotel nights, food, entertainment, car hire, taxi and airport transfer services, and all of this in March, during what potentially is one of Malta’s leanest tourism months.

Another possibly uncalculated spill over will be the work journalists will do. They won’t just cover the event: they’ll cover the event and Malta.

Can we imagine what a minute on CNN Mainsail costs or a simple paragraph in the sailing blogs, websites and newspapers of the world.

The first event of its kind ever to be held in Malta, the RC44 Valletta Cup is being held next March. Organised by Yachting Events Limited, the event is being held under the patronage of the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and under the auspices of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 31

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INTERVIEW

A LIFE AT SEA International judge Peter Valentino discusses his childhood days at Haywharf, his competitive spirit, and judging 250 events in 28 nations.

What role did your father play in inspiring you to take up a career at sea?

My father was among the finest of sailors. He was almost shy, quiet and very modest. He never had a “good” boat and his pride was that he never ever tore a sail. He would take care of his boat and equipment to no extent. I remember how, rather than going for the prime and most advantaged position on the starting line, he used to sail clear. This, as a youngster, was the source of great annoyance to me as I simply couldn’t stomach the fact that he used to let the other competitors take the lead. Within minutes, however, he’d be ahead of the fleet.

I spent a lot of time with my father, both ashore and afloat. His love for the sea was immense and even though timid, his competitive spirit was gigantic. He taught me to respect the rules. He may have not known the intricacies of the rules, especially in his later days, but he certainly sailed to a gentleman’s status. In those days, if you infringed or thought you infringed a rule the proper way out was to retire. I think that happened once.

My involvement in the sport was inevitable. I grew up afloat or around boats and boating people ashore. My father never pushed me but always encouraged me: that’s the sign of a good teacher.

What are your most precious memories of your childhood down at Haywharf?

I have many happy memories of Haywharf.

Everyone was a friend there and only those who used to frequent Haywharf can understand what it was all about.

Hector Borg Carbott, a good family friend, had founded the Phoenicians Sailing Club. We didn’t have much but we had Charlie Vella who took care of the so-called dinghy park, a small room that doubled up as a bar. Before going afloat, the barman used to give me a bottle of Kinnie and loads of good will. Yes, that’s what it was - good

Peter Valentino at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, 2014.

will. It wasn’t a matter of pique. Of course we were competitive but there was no scheming - it was just good will and people who loved dinghy sailing.

From racing to judging: what convinced you to make the switch?

I have always liked the Rules Book. As a young member at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, I used to sometimes be asked to help out with bridge duties. We had a system whereby the sailors used to take it in turns. It worked. I then got roped in, because I put myself forward into hearing protests. That was a learning curve.

I decided to take it further. Those were the days when we used to read about the Kenwood Cup, Merit Cup and the Americas Cup. Everybody knew Azzurra. We did race in Malta but the furthest we got, development wise, was the Malta to Syracuse Race. We subscribed to different magazines and I used to spend hours reading about the events around the world.

Strangely enough, in 1997 the Malta Model Boating Association organised a World Championship at the Ramla Bay Hotel. I remember that I was disappointed that I wasn’t asked to join the jury. On the first day John Ripard, who then was already a senior judge, called me and in his usual openness instructed me to join the jury. I picked up my Rules Book, drove to Ramla and there I met 13 international judges who welcomed me warmly.

I was invited to sit to the left of John and on the right hand side of Mary Pera. Mary was possibly the most experienced judge, a lovely and interesting lady. Her Rules Book was full of notes scribbled in pencil. I remember we went through 127 protests. At the end of the week Mary invited me to have a drink with her. To my surprise she had taken notes of every protest and all the questions I had asked. She encouraged me to apply for international judge status. That was such a compliment. I applied two years later.

The journey wasn’t easy. First of all Malta was practically unknown to the International Sailing Federation. They knew John but then Malta had just created a diplomatic error with the International Sailing Federation. My application, as anything hailing from Malta, had to be heavily scrutinised. In the years and up to months before I submitted my application the Malta Yachting Federation, soon after renamed Malta Sailing Federation, had endorsed false certificates for a particular person who wanted to achieve international judge status. The International Sailing Federation fell for this and erroneously appointed him as a judge.

Eventually, this came out in the open and within days the International Sailing Federation rescinded his status. This meant that the guard changed and a new federation was formed.

Nevertheless it took us a while to regain the full trust of the International Sailing Federation.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 35

INTERVIEW

I had no exposure to international events held in Malta so really and truly clubs could hardly help. Yes, the federation backed me by believing in me and signing the necessary documents, after I proved to them that I had the necessary requisites to apply. Anybody wishing to gain international status abroad can easily get experience at home often with all expenses covered. It’s so much easier for them and I must say that in this respect I was disadvantaged. I had a strong will to succeed and this made me work hard at it.

Today, after 14 years of doing this as a fully fledged judge and an extra four years as a novice, and after 250 events in 28 nations, I think I’ll keep my status until 2016 and then get back to racing, possibly on board a big boat as a rules advisor. Sitting on a RIB following boats as they race taught me quite a lot. It’s so easy to see the tactics and the game unfold from a jury boat. Time will tell.

You have judged all kinds of races, from local to international maxi races and the London Paralympics. From a judging point of view, what are the constant elements in all judging events and what makes them differ?

I’m privileged to have judged many diverse events in many corners of the world. In my mind, the constant element is passion. Apart from knowing the rules well, you need to carry the passion for your nation and sport with you.

Passion for my nation comes when talking about our history and about where Malta, especially in maritime affairs, is today. I do my best to spread the word about the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Malta as a destination and the benefits of the Valletta flag registration.

Events differ and even though judges are tied to the rules, we do take a different approach. For instance, the way we operate at an Optimist event is different to the way we operate at an Olympic Class event.

The constant element inside the jury room and while afloat is to be totally unbiased, to find facts, reach a conclusion and take a decision.

The constant element within the organisation is to pull the same rope.

Sometimes things do happen and in a well-oiled organisation the sailor, who at the end if the day is our client, will not even realise that an issue arose and that it was sorted. Another constant for us as a jury is to guide the organisation as best as we can and according to the rules.

Our objective is to help steer the event in the right direction and to take an interest without interfering.

If anything it’s the mentality that differs - in certain races we find facts after twists and turns. In others, especially when dealing with professional sailors, we’re given the facts clearly as seen from on board. All that good and top sailors want is a decision - as long as the procedure is followed well, that shouldn’t be too hard to reach.

What is the atmosphere like in the judges’ room during a protest hearing?

The atmosphere in the jury room differs greatly on the quality, complexity and weight of the event. A large part of it is directed by the jury chair, who sort of sets the mood.

The first thing we usually do, after meeting the other people involved in the organisation, is to get a good look at the venue, especially if it’s new to us. We then go through all the documentation one more time and in most cases we do find minor things we prefer to change. My draft as jury chair is to change the very least. Sailors have enough on their plate nowadays.

During certain events like Olympic Games the jury room often turns into the most morose place on earth: 26 judges, 26 laptops and dead

36 - Skipper / Issue 07

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silence. During such events we are not allowed to talk to sailors or venture to the boat park. It’s an awful feeling since at any other event, we do walk by the boat park and exchange a few words with sailors.

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During a hearing it’s all about procedure: one slip and the risk is that the hearing may not have the outcome it was meant to have. Ideally, hearings shouldn’t last more than 25 minutes. This does change if we end up with more than two parties or if we need to bring in a translator.

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We do allow observers in the room, generally one per party. It’s normal for a coach to observe during Olympic class events and that’s fine. The restriction I put is that if they advertise their presence in the room, I’ll ask them to leave. I did it possibly three to four times but in general, observers are very well behaved.

Good sailors hardly ever come to the jury room because they never get involved in situations or if they do they take their penalty afloat. When they come along then it’s a serious affair.

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At times we judges have a different perspective on the interpretation of a particular rule or regulation. We always discuss this: decisions taken in the jury room are always collegiate and rarely are they collegiate but not unanimously taken.

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Our decisions are not subject to appeal and therefore the importance of getting it right is extremely high. We can’t afford to make any errors, for the sake of the sailors involved and for that of our sport. I’d be so embarrassed if I had to reach the wrong decision, especially after all these years in the game. On the other hand, boats and teams are nowadays surrounded by lawyers who are ready to act by taking cases to the Court of Arbitration if Sport. It’s a complex situation and terribly costly for the organisation.

Y O U R R A C I N G PA R T N E R !

Cruising or racing: which gives you most pleasure?

Even when I’m out cruising with friends, I always end up racing.

I have a great admiration for those who do manage to cruise at length and live aboard. That’s a lifestyle I admire. However, every time I’m out cruising, the moment I spot another set of sails I feel I need to catch up and overtake the other boat.

It’s not only a matter of being competitive. By definition, sailing is getting somewhere by using the force of the wind and the sea. To do this efficiently is to get the best out of the boat by distributing the weight accordingly, constantly setting the sails. Why shouldn’t you get the best out of what the boat can give you?

One judging experience you will never forget?

It’s not easy to list and single out one particular judging or racing experience. At the beginning judging Olympians at events like Semaine Olympique Francaise was to me the highlight. Getting involved with

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Skipper / Issue 07 - 37

RMS

INTERVIEW

Olympic classes was very special. As time went

by I ventured to the then newly constituted RC44 and the TP52 classes. Here I met even more illustrious sailors who really mean so much to our sport.

I do remember, however, being at a large event with around 1,200 sailors from some 70 nations. I was detailed to chair a panel and at one point before the hearing began I was asked if I would accept a special observer: I did and the observer turned out to be a television journalist and camera crew. Five million people viewed that footage live.

Maybe the judging experience that taught me most about life was whenever I judged disabled sailors. I learnt so much from them because rather than being disabled these have different abilities. They’re in love with life and nature: conditions that put able-bodied people off sailing are a piece of cake for them. We have so much to be thankful for.

And one unforgettable sailing or racing experience?

Racing is a thrill and sailing is such a lovely sport. In my younger days dinghy sailing went through a phase where it became almost non-existent. Windsurfing or rather boardsailing had taken over. I quickly jumped onto big boats. What I remember fondly from racing are the many true friendships I made. Sharing the moment of when morning breaks, of when you spot a turtle or a large fish. Remembering that we often had miles to go knowing that we were well or badly placed, moreover in good or rough sea extreme conditions both ways.

You are the chairman of the RMSR jury: what are the challenges and highlights of the RMSR? The organisational challenges of the RMSR have changed drastically over the years. Any good organiser knows that they have to be one step ahead or more. You’ve got to think of the next one, the next investment in the race.

The challenges with regard to the jury start with the selection of the judges. An international jury is made up of at least five people, the majority of whom carry ISAF international judge status and certainly not more than two that hail from the same nation.

We do of course invite our friends, and by this I mean friends of the club. When suggesting names I always think of capabilities. From all sports, sailing has probably the most complex Rules Book. We have 91 rules: more rules than golf, tennis and football put together. We also have a huge number of regulations, class rules and equipment rules to follow.

Moreover the world of sport is changing rapidly and we’re certainly more accountable for our actions than ever before. It’s also important to invite officials with experience in long distance offshore racing and who ideally have raced on big boats in similar races. You have to know what it takes and we have to examine every case accordingly and understand what it’s like for the sailor.

Luckily, today, with the help of technology we know exactly where every boat is around the course and we’re even aware of the direction and speed of each and every boat in real time.

The highlights for us officials are many.

Very probably we peak twice. The first is the start of the race when all the boats gather and leave from below the largest collection of bastion walls in the Mediterranean. Looking out beyond the boats we always realise how much Malta as an island lives around the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Even though television airs the start as it happens, the walls around the Grand Harbour are full of people watching this most amazing event. The next highlight is when boats begin to return, satisfied to have raced what without a doubt is one of the best long distance races available at the moment I wish to thank Edwards Lowell Co. Ltd, in particular Mr & Mrs Lowell and their family for believing in the race in the very early days and indeed today. I thank Rolex SA for taking the event under their crown and thus being the catalysts that ensured that the race went from 18 entries to 100. It’s great to feel part of the Rolex Sailing Club and Rolex fraternity.

I thank my fellow sailors, officials and volunteers - without them we’d have a tough time to organise the race and I also thank the media who have been so instrumental in spreading the word.

The jury room is open to all: we’re there to serve and to help out as much as we can. Come and see us: we’ll be happy to meet and assist as best as we can.

I remember a particular race in which we had equipment failure. This instigated me to inform the race committee that I had retired but soon after, when I realised I could sail the crippled boat, I rescinded my retirement and carried on racing. I also remember a fast 90-mile race all under spinnaker where we started the race a boat length after a boat and maintained that position all the way across the finish line. It’s all about teamwork, distributing duties and helping each other.

It can get difficult especially if one watch doesn’t perform as well as the other but it’s the end result that counts. Racing is just like life. In racing we opt to use certain sails and to choose what we would think that would be a preferred side. It doesn’t always pay off just like in life. But let’s think positively - let’s think of the brighter moments and the good memories we carry with us thanks to the beauty of the sport.

First left: As a member of the jury for the London Olympic Games 2012. Photo by Andrea Carloni.

38 - Skipper / Issue 07

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RMSR

AN ITALIAN VICTORY Skipper relives the highlights of the 2013 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Pre-start manoeuvres. Photo: Rolex/Rene Rossignaud.

A

s always, the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2013 began in style. A spectacular start sequence, set against Valletta's bastions and animated by the firing of cannons from the grandiose Saluting Battery, opened the 34th edition of the RMSR. For the second year running the sizeable watching public witnessed a record-breaking fleet depart from Malta ahead of a 606Nm anticlockwise loop around Sicily. 99 yachts from 19 countries easily surpassed the figure of 82 entrants from 2012. A remarkable ascendancy for the event organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and sponsored by Rolex since 2002.

The reasons for its continued popularity are clear: a breathtaking race course, tactically challenging

and scenic in equal measure, close competition throughout the fleet and, above all, the indomitable spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

The 2013 race was characterised by light conditions, demanding patience and perseverance in the quest for small positional gains. The Kristina Plattner-skippered maxi Morning Glory from Germany claimed line honours as the race's fastest boat while the RMSR trophy for overall winner was awarded to B2 from Italy.

Michele Galli's TP52 B2 ended an eight-year hiatus since the last Italian victory at the RMSR. On that occasion, Carlo Puri Negri's Farr 70 Atalanta II scooped both of the race's main prizes.

Infanta on her way to Malta.

Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 41

RMSR

B2 arrived in Malta with winning intentions as Spanish navigator Nacho Postigo confirmed shortly before the race. "This is a boat which has a good chance as it performs well in both light and strong winds." Almost exactly three days after the start, B2 was the eighth boat to complete the race. An impressive feat that saw her top the leaderboard on corrected time. Immersed in rapidly fading conditions, the chasing fleet would find it impossible to surpass the B2 benchmark.

The TP52 is a stripped-down racing boat, not designed for comfort but for maximum performance. It is a model that regularly performs well in the fickle world of offshore racing. Both Franck Noel's Near Miss from Switzerland, winner of the 2012 the Giraglia Rolex Cup, and American Brian Ehrhart's Lucky, RMSR winner in 2010, are TP52s.

B2's success was one of persistence, teamwork and creative thinking. On the second night the crew lost their onboard electronics, probably due to flooding.

"We tried everything to reboot the system, but it simply didn't work, all the displays went black," explained Postigo. The solution relied on the height of modern cellular technology: one smartphone with a compass app strapped to wheel pedestal to maintain course and another phone loaded with digital cartography to plot position.

Technology may have provided a stopgap solution to the navigation, but in the absence of key instruments, the Italian-Spanish crew was forced to rely inherent nautical instincts and traditional methods to get the best from the yacht. "We ended up racing B2 like a dinghy and Francesco de Angelis had to call strategy almost completely blind - I don't think he had more than two hours sleep," confirmed Postigo.

"It was a difficult race, the first time this team has done a race this long together. To arrive ahead

of almost 100 boats is a great achievement," explained de Angelis, no stranger to the course.

Sailing an all out racing boat like a TP52 is not necessarily the most relaxing way to experience the RMSR. "We are very tired," he continued, "comfort is not really associated with a TP52 and we experienced everything: light, medium and some strong wind. Technically and physically it was a very challenging race. The key was not losing ground in the difficult moments or becoming blocked during periods of light air."

Morning Glory returned to the RMSR for the first time since winning the competition in 2006.

Derailed by a last minute technical hitch the 100-foot maxi Esimit Europa 2, line honours winner during the last three editions, was unable to defend her title and consequently the chase for line honours was more open than in recent years.

Morning Glory and the two competing 72-foot mini maxis Alegre and Robertissima began as favourites.

Morning Glory, Hasso Plattner's 86-foot maxi, skippered for the first time by his daughter Kristina, led from the start and was able to gain a march on her nearest rivals through the Strait of Messina and the approach to Stromboli. While the race record of 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds was never under serious threat, her position at the front of the fleet was comfortable. "There were a few light patches in the north of Sicily after Stromboli. We got in the lee of the island and ended up with a lot of light running so it wasn't conducive to getting the record. However, we never felt threatened by the boats behind us," explained navigator Andrew Cape.

Despite not being able to race the boat to anywhere near its full speed potential, most evident during the painful crawl to the finish line after just over two days and 16 hours at sea, the crew enjoyed their success. "The victory means a lot," explained Kristina Plattner. "It is the first

B2 and Emma. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

42 - Skipper / Issue 07

time my father has not been on the boat when I am here. I was quite scared beforehand to do this without him but I've known some of these guys for years and they looked after me really well."

Despite the difficulties encountered during the long week at sea, the vast or mainly Corinthian fleet revelled in the competition, its challenges and warm welcome on arrival back in Malta.

Massimo Juris and Pietro Luciani's First 40.7 Blucolombre won the keenly contested doublehanded class. "I originally entered the boat with a regular crew and then I saw there was already a lot of double-handed boats so I switched my preference," explained Juris.

When pressed for his reasons for sailing doublehanded, Juris admitted: "Sailing with just two people, there is more room on board. For an owner to manage a crew it's always a big ask. In long races with a lot of people it can be uncomfortable." On the other hand, sailing double-handed the hours are longer and responsibility greater. "You have to be available at all times," continued Juris, "the watch shifts are very important, you have to manoeuvre continually as if you had a full crew. The legs are relatively short so you can't put things off. We are always having to bang on the boat to suddenly wake the other one up!"

Racing fully-crewed and as a local sailor Edward Gatt Floridia, Maltese skipper of J/122 Otra Vez, could draw on greater RMSR experience. "Racing in light airs is very tiring, to keep the boat moving requires the whole crew to concentrate, even the off-watch have to wake up and move their weight to the correct side of the boat. The weather suited the bigger yachts this year." The rare statistic of just one retirement demonstrates just how well prepared the largely amateur fleet was and their determination to finish the course, in spite of what the elements dictated.

B2 sailing the final miles on the approach to Malta.

Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

Morning Glory line honours winner of the 2013 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

Final start from the Grand Harbour. Photo: Rolex/Rene Rossignaud.

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There is a work-wear feel to many looks: button-down shirts and knit ties are paired with long cardiganjackets, casual navy blue khakis and massive leather boots. We see cuffed narrow slim pants, an ice blue leather jacket with a clean, architectural structure worn with a winter classic like the thick cable knit sweater. BOSS colours are inspired by the polar circle landscapes, from light chalkstone grey to dark oceanblue and deep purple. Accessories have a laid back functionality: bags are spacious and shoes are modest.

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Skipper / Issue 07 - 43

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FEATURE

ROUND BRITAIN AND IRELAND Brian Flahive (left) and Liam Coyne.

No double-handed boat had ever finished the tough Royal Ocean Racing Club Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Until this year, when Brian Flahive and Liam Coyne endured the 1802Nm non-stop course and triumphed against all odds.

How did you two come together to race the Round Britain and Ireland Race?

We first sailed together when we were invited

by Sandro Musu and Barry Hurley to come to Malta to do the 2010 Rolex Middle Sea Race.

After the race, Liam asked me sail on his 36.7 Lula Belle in Dublin for the winter league. It was fully crewed and fun to sail with.

During the next two years I continued to race two-handed during the summer and raced on Lula Belle during the winter. At the start of 2012 season, Liam decided to try two-handed racing and asked if I would be interested. That year we raced all the Irish Offshore League and we did the Round Ireland Yacht Race, in which we finished second double-handed and second IRC class 4.

In 2013, we again participated in ISORA and the Rolex Fastnet was our big race. We finished 14th out of 45 in double-handed and 18th out of 85 in IRC Class 4.

Over the winter of 2013/14, I came across an article for Royal Western Yacht Club's double-handed Round Britain and Ireland race which included four stop offs. It looked exciting but then I saw the article for Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland non-stop. No double-handed boat had ever finished this race and it seemed like a good challenge, so I told Liam about it. We spent a few months thinking about it but didn't think it would a realistic option for us. Then at the beginning of the 2014 racing season, Liam contacted me to say he was keen to do the race.

What inspired you to enter the race?

We liked the idea of a real challenge and this race had many. As the race only happens once every four years and the conditions in the past have been tough, few boats have completed the course. No double-handed boat had ever finished the race. Most of the race is in waters that we had never sailed in before and it was exciting to think of the adventure that this course could produce. It has many obstacles like the shipping traffic in the English Channel, all the oil rigs, the overfalls and tide rips around Orkney and Shetland and the weather and waves that the North Atlantic is famous for.

In what ways did you optimise Lula Bell for the Round Britain and Ireland Race?

For this race, not too many changes had to be made to Lula Belle. Over the previous two seasons, we had spent a lot of time optimising Lula Belle for double-handed racing and also to make the boat more user-friendly for Liam to take his young children sailing. A bow sprit and asymmetric sails replaced the conventional pole and symmetrical spinnakers, and this made gybing much easier. Jib furling was also fitted and both reduced the need for someone to be on the bow. The sail drive was stripped and resealed, the forestay was renewed and LED nav lights were fitted to reduce battery consumption.

You had a tough competition against you: professional crews, bigger boats and fully crewed boats. Yet you managed to win two RORC classes and finished fifth overall. How would you describe such an achievement?

Good preparation was the key. Even though we had a lot of gear failure, we had plenty of spares and so kept going when other boats with similar problems had to retire. We knew the boat was very well set up from the previous year. We invested in larger spinnakers so downwind we were quicker than some bigger boats and with our lower handicap we could beat them if we played it safe and didn't push the boat when we

Skipper / Issue 07 - 45

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FEATURE

"WE HOPE PEOPLE WHO SAW WHAT WE ACHIEVED MIGHT BE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW." felt the weather was getting too bad. When we finished the race we were told we were sixth overall but two days later when the final results were calculated we moved up to fifth overall.

Apart from being amateurs, you also had to handle your own shore management and technical support. What logistical hurdles did you face?

Our biggest logistical hurdle was trying to arrange the delivery of the boat from Dublin to Cowes.

Liam is busy running his company and I'm living in Malta so it meant we would have to take more time off work and away from other commitments.

Luckily, the Lula Belle crew from her fully crewed days were willing to do the trip and they got the boat to Southampton. Liam is a big fan of new technology and he spent months before the race studying and learning how to use different weather apps, electronic charts and navigation software. By the time the race started he was a pro and spent a bit of time bringing me up to speed.

You also suffered some electronic equipment failure = how did you rise above these challenges?

We just went back to basics. Many sailors have covered thousands of miles with no electronic equipment so we were grateful for any batterypowered device we had. The first thing we had to think about was safety. Nav lights were made up from a head torch taped to the bow with a bi-colour nav light lens taped over it and the stern light was a torch taped to the pushpit. Batteries had to be replaced every day but we had a large supply of spares. We had a handheld GPS that we turned on every two hours at shift change just to make sure we were still holding a good course and then turned it off and we steered to the heading on the ship's main compass. We also had a handheld VHF that we left in the cockpit.

What weather conditions did you face?

For a lot of the race it was very windy. In the English Channel we had 30 knots gusting 35 and on a rare occasion hitting 40 knots. This was not so bad because it was downwind and the waves had not formed too much. As we rounded Muckle Flugga and headed out into the North Atlantic the wind and waves were starting to build again. This time we were experiencing 40 knots and very big waves. The wind was not a major problem because we could reduce the sail area. However, the waves were breaking in different directions and pushing the stern around, causing the boat to round up.

Then the next wave would come at a different angle and try the push the boat into a gybe.

Media reports described you as an inspiration to the entire Irish maritime community. How do you feel about that?

During the race we didn't have much contact with the rest of the world so we didn't realise that we had lots of people following us on the tracker and sending us messages and encouraging us to keep going and finish. We don't know about being an inspiration but we hope people who saw what we achieved might be encouraged to follow. It would be great to see many more amateur 35 to 40-foot boats take up this challenge in four years' time. It's a great course and a real test for offshore sailors.

What's next for the two of you?

Definitely a good rest. But who knows? Both of us will be doing the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Otra Vez, but as for the next big challenge, we'll just have to wait to find the right one.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 47

FEATURE

LIVING THE RACE

On board Lula Belle, Liam Coyne kept a diary during his off watch.

RACE DAY POSTPONED

On Sunday morning we're getting ready to head out to the start line. The wind is westerly 25 to 30 knots in the marina and we know it will be slightly stronger outside. As we're preparing to untie from the pontoon we hear an announcement over the VHF from the race committee. The start has been delayed. The new start time is Monday at 9:00am.

The committee took this decision after receiving advice that the low pressure system known as Bertha was moving slower than previously predicted, with the result that the forecast winds for the start and the immediate period afterwards include sustained winds of 40 knots, with gusts in excess of 50 knots in the English Channel.

THE START

Before the start sequence, the adrenalin is starting to kick in and we know it will take less than one minute to get back to the line once the bow is swung around. It's going to be a cautious start as we don't want to get caught on the wrong side.

The one minute gun goes. We wait a few seconds before pointing to the line. Lula Belle is now doing eight knots towards the line on

48 - Skipper / Issue 07

a broad reach. We're approaching a bit too quick so the hoist is delayed. With 15 seconds to go we hoist the A5 and we're doing 12 to 13 knots crossing the line. It's a great feeling to be starting such a long race at high speed.

The wind is building and the big IRC boats are hitting 20 knots and blasting away from us. The MOD 70 Musandam-Oman Sail and Volvo 65s start 10 minutes later but waste no time passing us. Musandam-Oman Sail passes to windward of us and the spray off their leeward bow is like that from a power hose shooting into the air. It's an impressive sight to see the 65s blasting along with their bows raised high out of the water.

1 First time on the North Sea and we get a cracking introduction. The wind hits 42.5 knots at one gust.

Brian hits a top speed of 16.9 knots with only the white sails up. We hope to make as much progress as we can up north. The real test for us starts tomorrow when we expect winds of 20 knots plus on nose. How long we can handle that pounding will make or break our race. Spirits are high and we're pushing hard.

2 We're getting hammered by the strong winds.

Our nav tri light blew off the mast, taking the wind index with it. This not only means we cannot tell wind strength and direction but we cannot use autopilot to wind. This makes sail changes much more difficult.

Life on board has settled into our two hours on, two hours off routine. It's amazing how quickly time passes in this system. But with winds above 30 knots all the time everything on board is physically very difficult. Walking around, cooking, even sleeping is like being in a tumble dryer. Can't wait for tomorrow.

Let's hope there are no more breakages

3 The wind has dropped to a more manageable 20 knots. We stop for an hour and repair the main sail. Wave direction and tides seem to turn against us. Only 125 miles covered today.

4 The first sign of things changing are the waves: they're now against us and the wind has turned. The hard beat to the Shetlands has started! Over 100

miles up wind. Life on board is still uncomfortable.

The sailing is great: it's the other stuff that's a nuisance. All our injuries have come from falls down below as the boat is rocked. The tide seems to be constantly against us. Spirits are good anyway.

5+ 6 We have been too far from shore over the last few days so communication has not been possible.

It's been a hard slog against the tides and wind to get to the Shetlands but we're finally here. We round Muckle Flugga as the sun is rising but there is a rough weather system coming from west. We decide to head west and cross on southerly winds to the centre then head south on the north-westerly winds the other side. With the lack of weight we get blown crossways in the water. It's a hard slog as our southerly winds are more south-west. A day later, the winds die. We are in the eye of it.

7 We arrive to the majestic sight of the sun rising over St Kilda. The wind is about 20 knots and we reach the halfway point. We have no idea how we're doing in the race but now we have the A5 up and we're pushing for the home county of Mayo and Belmullet, Ireland. With the speeds we're doing we should be there by

Tuesday morning about 5am. Sailing now with the kite is exciting but hard work.

8 Disaster strikes. Due to wind shifts we're back to white sails only and then the wind dies. The night is so black that we do not chance flying the kites. We have no wind instruments. We proceed with the main only. By 4am the sky has broken a little and we go for a hoist. It;s soon shredded completely.

We then put up the A3 and go with that. I go to bed and Brian starts his shift. I soon wake up upside down as the boat broaches. A squall has hit and the boat is not righting so I rush up to help Brian.

We finally stop it flogging only to see that the kite has also come apart. Completely deflated we get the kite back on board.

As we gybe to Belmullet the track for the main sheet shatters. Bits of track and bearings are everywhere. Brian and I just look at each other.

We have one small kite with a repair done to it left and our white sails. I don't know if we'll finish but we'll give it our best shot.

9 The engine will not start. Still, we have wind, a compass and charts. We're not giving up.

10 Winds filled in quicker at Mizen head than we expected. We still have the A5 kite and she's great. With no electronics on board we don't know our speeds, but we're flying.

11 As we're passing Eddiestone lighthouse just of Plymouth the wind fills in to about 15 knots and we're making good miles. Just one more night and we'll be home.

12 The Isle of Wight is in sight. It's such a nice feeling. We drift to the Bermbridge Ledge Cardinal Buoy. We round and start the final 11 miles to the finish. The tide is getting strong and the wind is starting to build. With two miles to go the race committee contact us on our handheld VHF: they are ready for us at the finish and they had organised for Cowes Harbour Master to tow us into the marina. As we approach the finish we noticed Rare, our two-handed competition, motoring to the finish line with their families on board. They cheer and clap as we cross the line. Finished: 12 days, two hours, 40 minutes and 54 seconds.

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Skipper / Issue 07 - 49

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NEWS

SAILING NEWS

A FITTING PARTNERSHIP O

ne of the sporting world's most enduring partnerships celebrates an important milestone this year: the 30th anniversary of the relationship between Rolex, Nautor's Swan luxury sailing yachts and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, partners in the biennial Rolex Swan Cup, one of the world of sailing's signature regattas.

Taking place from September 8-14, the 2014 Rolex Swan Cup once again provided the dynasty of elegant Swan yachts an opportunity to engage in close racing in the challenging and scenic waters off Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Following directly on from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held at the same venue, this year's 18th edition provided a typically graceful spectacle conducted in the traditional spirit of gentlemen sailing.

"The Rolex Swan Cup is one of the iconic regattas in the world. It is rewarding to see how it builds

up and is consolidated event after event", said Leonardo Ferragamo, Chairman of Nautor's Swan since 1998. "It represents the utmost cooperation between three great entities: Rolex, title sponsors since 1984, event organisers the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and, of course, Nautor's Swan".�

Fittingly, 2014 also marks the 30th year of the partnership between Rolex and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

"The event embodies several values, first of all the pleasure of owning a Swan", added Ferragamo, a long-time and passionate Swan owner and sailor. "A Swan owner is a person who really loves their boat and is full of pride, dedicating time and energy to their yacht. Swan owners have passion and a noble approach which is characterised by the racing and the competitive spirit that shines through at the Rolex Swan Cup." These principles firmly align with those of Rolex.

For over a century the Swiss watch brand has derived inspiration from people and events that define quality, precision and prestige.

Spinnaker drop onboard J-One. Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Bella Mente (USA) starring at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

The Rolex Swan Cup celebrates 30 years of partnership with Rolex and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup showcases the best in maxis racing.

Start Swan 45 Class. Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

2006 Rolex Swan Cup, Too and Talj. Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

MEETING OF THE GRAND DESIGNS O wned and helmed by individuals accustomed to success outside of sport, sailed by outstanding professional talent and designed by architectural visionaries, the world's most impressive monohull yachts - known in the sailing community as maxis - are admired for their speed, power and elegance.

The ultimate testing ground and showcase for maxis, their owners, sailors and designers is the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held annually in Porto Cervo, Sardinia and open only to yachts over 60 feet in length. With a fierce level of competition, challenging and complex

racecourses, the event provides a stern examination of a maxi yacht's capabilities.

Established in 1980, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is inspired by of a desire to provide the large, powerful yachts with an opportunity to engage in a direct competition, in a suitably challenging environment. Organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the event has been the jewel of Rolex's international yachting portfolio since 1985. The near 30-year partnership between the event, yacht club and title sponsor is one of the longest and most significant relationships in the world of sailing. Its enduring nature reflects shared values and the common pursuit of excellence and advancing innovation.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 51

ADVERT

VOLVO OCEAN RACE

Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

LET THE RACE BEGIN

Skipper gets ready for the Volvo Ocean Race.

I

n just a few days, Alicante will be rolling out the red carpet once again as it prepares for the toughest race in the world: the Volvo Ocean Race.

The race village opens on October 2 and will remain free to enter until October 11, when it is packed away to follow the Volvo Ocean Race boats on the first leg of their voyage across four oceans and five continents around the globe.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 53

VOLVO OCEAN RACE

The experience will feature live shows, an interactive quiz, celebrity appearances, and even a unique opportunity to feel the thrill of hurtling across the ocean at 40 knots. In the meantime, the teams are busy at the boatyard preparing to battle the waves.

The Volvo Ocean Race is also attracting more support. Mapfre, the global insurance giant, will be backing the Spanish challenge in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 to complete the fleet's line-up of title sponsors. The company is already well known as leading supporters of sailing and confirmed its support of skipper Iker Martínez's challengers.

"Being the main sponsor of a campaign like this is an exceptional opportunity," said Mapfre vice-president Antonio Núñez.

The Madrid-based company's timely announcement has delighted the Spanish team's CEO Pedro Campos who has worked with them on several previous campaigns in other events.

"We are pleased and grateful to Mapfre for its support in this new great adventure

competing in the Volvo Ocean Race representing Spain," he said.

Although the Spanish team was only announced in the middle of the year, most expect them to be competitive in the one-design Volvo Ocean 65 boat with Martínez and long-term sailing partner and best friend Xabi Fernancez spearhe ading their challenge.

The crew is mainly formed by Spaniards but it also boasts some leading international sailors including André Fonseca, the only Brazilian in the fleet, and Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux, rated one of the leading singlehanded sailors in the world.

With just over a week before the event starts, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad was equally pleased to welcome the final title sponsor of a highly competitive seven-strong fleet.

"This is great news for the race and we're delighted to see Mapfre join our family of title sponsors," he said.

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54 - Skipper / Issue 07

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NEWS

RUM AND ROSÉ AT MONACO YACHT SHOW 2014 Marking the end of the Mediterranean summer season, the Monaco Yacht Show continues to draw cheery crowds to one of the Principality’s biggest events. While shipyards and sales brokers were busy exhibiting an impressive fleet of new builds and yachts for sale, suppliers, charter brokers, and crew snapped the opportunity to celebrate the end of what appeared to be yet another great season.

BWA Yachting, the global agency and concierge group, invited the whole lot to an evening of rum and rosé at the legendary Stars ‘N’ Bars.

“The season is never really over for us. Once guests return home, our clients immediately start planning their crossing to the US and Caribbean or their winter in the Mediterranean. Monaco Yacht Show has always been a great place for the industry as a whole to get together, and what better place than here?” said Julian Madsen, commercial director of BWA Yachting.

More than 115 yachts attended this year’s show in Monaco. BWA Yachting has been operating in Malta for the past four years and has actively supported some of the largest super yachts to visit Malta. For more information visit www. bwayachting.com or send an e-mail at malta@bwayachting.com.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 55

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Looking to sell, buy or lease a boat?

Atlantis 39, 2008. Dealer stock boat. Never sold.

Twin Volvo Penta D6, 310 Hp with 0 hours. Boat has never been launched. Condition as new.

Price: €205,000. Esprit Yachting Ltd., M: 9944 2122, sales@esprityachting.com, www.esprityachting.com/brokerage

Azimut 43 Flybridge, 2007. Twin Cummins 470 Hp very low hours. Price: €185,000.

Esprit Yachting Ltd., M: 9944 2122, sales@esprityachting.com, www. esprityachting.com/brokerage

• REFIT & REPAIR All types of yard work including engine & engine room equipment (MTU, DDC, Scania Distributors)

• PAINT FINISHING Experienced painting team (Awlgrip Distributors)

• BUNKERING • CHANDLERY DEPARTMENT Representatives of leading brands

Advertise for free in our classified listings.

E-mail photo and 35 words max to skipper@becommunications.com Listing subject to Editor approval.

• PROVISION DEPARTMENT • AGENCY SERVICES & SHORE BASED MANAGEMENT for CAPTAINS & OWNERS • CHARTER & BROKERAGE DEPARTMENT • COMPANY & FLAG REGISTRATION

Melita Marine Group Ltd, 201, The Strand, Gzira, GZR 1023 - Malta.

Tel: +356 2133 0964 / 82 (24hr): +356 9949 3706 Fax: +356 2131 4093 Email: info@melitamarinegroup.net www.melitamarinegroup.net Skipper / Issue 07 - 57

GADGETS

WIRED AT SEA

Skipper reviews the latest gadgets that make your life on board that little bit easier.

THE DAILY GRIND A steaming cup of coffee can be your best sailing companion. The Richard Sapper collection for Alessi includes a coffee maker and a stainless-steel kettle with a brass whistle that produces a melody as steam exits. A singing companion, if you will.

WRIST ACTION

CLOSED CASE

The Samsung Gear Fit wearable wristband is a biometrics-measuring gadget that helps you keep track of your health and fitness. Attractively designed, the Gear Fit wristband is dust proof and will survive a splash or two up to a metre deep for up to half an hour.

The Lifeproof Nuud cases protect your iPad and iPhone from drops, dunks and dust.

Moreover, it ensures that even when clad in its protection, you still have full access and use of your technology. Comes with optical-glass lens and enhanced speaker port.

58 - Skipper / Issue 07

IN CONTROL The HISY wireless smartphone camera remote works via Bluetooth to let you take photos with your smartphone remotely. Just turn the remote on and it will sync with your smartphone. Then place the smartphone anywhere, take up position, and click.

SEE THROUGH The Flir First Mate II is a portable night-vision camera that features high resolution, zoom and the ability to store a picture or video on an SD card.

Optical distances range from 1,000 feet to about one nautical mile for a man overboard and to 2.5 nautical miles for larger objects such as boats.

LISTEN TO THIS The Shure SE846 headphones are perfect for the most demanding traveller. Inside each of the translucent earphones are four custom speaker drivers: two handle bass frequencies, one handles the mid-range and the fourth takes care of the high-end. That’s a professional set-up if ever there was one. Detail and accuracy of sound is guaranteed together with isolation even in the noisiest environments.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 59

INTERVIEW FASHION

A WINNING WARDROBE Skipper prepares for autumn with fashion line honours.

Breitling reinterprets the pure and original spirit of its Transocean collection in a refined model. Transocean 38: a new classic for all wrists.

Swims rubber and mesh penny loafers.

Silk and cashmere-blend blazer by Loro Piana.

60 - Skipper / Issue 07

Flower-intarsia cashmere sweater by The Elder Statesman.

Merino wool and cashmere scarf

by Burberry.

Berluti water-repellent cashmere gilet.

Offshore race jacket by Musto.

Hunter grained-leather backpack

by Bill Amberg.

SealSkinz thermal socks are 100% waterproof, breathable and windproof keeping your feet warm and dry when out on the water, or any other wet activities. Sealskinz are available at Sealink Marine Centre. For more information visit www.sealinkmarine.com.

Long-sleeved suede-trimmed cashmere polo shirt by Doriani.

Skipper / Issue 07 - 61

FOOD

SQUID PRO QUO THE RECIPE You need Fresh calamari, cleaned out, frozen and defrosted Pieces of fish, diced into 1-2cm pieces Fresh herbs like basil, parsley and marjoram

Get inked with Mona Farrugia's calamari stuffed with fresh seafood.

W

hen we were young, we would go to the beach in Birzebbuga - then pristine rock and clear water, now horrendous container stack and artificial sand where we had our own spot.

Method Very simple: make (or buy) the fresh fix mix, stuff the calamari. Slice diagonally. Roast. We love to serve these with roast potatoes in a lush sauce of tomato, champagne and cream.

My mother would read and swim long strokes, miles out, probably trying to get some peace away from us. My father would get his harpoon, disappear for hours on end and then come back with a plastic bag full of octopus and small fish, usually tied to his swim trunks. This was the 1970s and 80s and he was still sexy then. Men were men and Maltese men were more macho than anything.

Back home, my mother, a hopeless and helpless cook, would rather disdainfully plonk the octopus into the freezer and hope against hope that my father would forget about it. Of course, he did nothing of the sort and periodically he would remind her that the fruits of his labour may have been borne of a lush suntan and much relaxation, but they were still there, languishing on ice.

How? Well, no beating the thing around will help. And to be honest I've never tried that other old wives' tale of adding a cork to the cooking liquid. Most definitely the freezing is what does it. The same chemical process that destroys meat - the ice crystals expand and break the fibres - are the ones that benefit octopus.

So if you want good octopus, forget fresh: plonk it into the freezer and forget about it. The same applies to our luscious and bestselling Angelica dish of calamari stuffed with whatever is in season. If you can't be bothered making them, then I suggest you call us when you are berthed in Malta and simply book your table. We'll do the swimming and cooking for you.

62 - Skipper / Issue 07

Photos by Kris Micallef

So my mother would eventually defrost the octopus and cook it in tomato sauce, olives and capers for hours on end. The result: lush, firm, yet extremely soft octopus that the contestants of MasterChef Australia - who needed an entire masterclass on the critters - would envy.

Big Bang Unico.

UNICO column-wheel chronograph.

In-house Hublot movement.

72-hour power reserve. King Gold case, an exclusive red gold alloy developed

by Hublot. Ceramic bezel. Interchangeable strap by a unique attachment. www.hublot.com •

twitter.com/hublot •

facebook.com/hublot