SPINNAKER July '11 - Issue 25

ISSUE 25 - JUL 11

London 2012 calling FOR BEN, SEB & MAYA

The first Slam Regatta

TrophEe Bailli de Suffren

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NATURE NEEDS HEROES

Contents 10 Just Kon-Tikiing

It’s four men in a boat as Mark Vella brings the Kon-Tiki home.

15 Tag along to Marzamemi

Spinnaker enjoys the sights, sounds and smells of Marzamemi.

18 Being ISAF’s Ambassador Being a member of the International Sailing Federation gives us the opportunity to improve the sport, says Anna Rossi, Malta Sailing Federation President.

21 Going forward

Mark Napier, Vice Commodore RMYC explains the need for the club’s pontoon project.

24 Wham, bam, thank you Slam

Strong winds, close racing and a fun-filled three days – the first Slam Regatta takes the spoils.

26 He’s the Boss

Alex Thomson takes on one of the most extreme and challenging sports in the world.

31 Having a bailli

Some of the most beautiful yachts in the world will grace the Grand Harbour during the Trophée Bailli de Suffren.

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34 Sailing for Olympic treasure

Sebastian Ripard and Benji Borg have a place at the London 2012 Olympics in their sights.

38 Rounding up in 30 knots round Filfla

Spinnaker relives the excitement of the IIG Bank Round the Islands Race.

45 Triple Handed Round Gozo in three knots of breeze

Racing was slow but the competition was still keen at the Triple Handed Round Gozo Race.

46 Racing around the world

The X-35 European Championships, Block Island Race Week and the Portofino Rolex Trophy.

52 Celebrating quality ingredients

The White Sheep share some of their favourite recipes.

54 Maya the wind be with you

Maya Podesta hears London 2012 calling.

WELCOME A

s you have noticed, Spinnaker has a brand new look that reflects the mission of our club through interesting content and attractive design. And it’s not just because it is the Royal Malta Yacht Club publication, but it does look good.

We have entrusted Be Communications and Porridge Creative with the revamp of our publication. Be Communications is a young and dynamic publishing house, publishing other quality magazines like FM and Money. To add Spinnaker to its list of publications is indeed an honour for the both of us.

In this issue of Spinnaker, we review the first Slam Regatta, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and sponsored by RLR Yachting, local agents for Slam clothing.

The Slam Regatta presented the participants with three days of fun racing in near perfect weather conditions.

We also preview the 10th edition of the Trophée Bailli de Suffren, the international race for traditional classic yachts. The Royal Malta Yacht Club is one of the patrons of this race, which will see some of the most beautiful yachts in the world, including the schooner Atlantic, sail into the Grand Harbour.

The London 2012 Olympics present a lifelong dream for our young sailors. In this issue of Spinnaker, we interview Sebastian Ripard and Benji Borg, who have the potential to represent Malta in the fastest sailing event at the 2012 Olympics – the 49er Class. We also meet Maya Podesta, who is in full preparations for the Olympics qualifiers.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a great sailing summer.

Read on and enjoy.

Georges Bonello DuPuis.

Commodore, Royal Malta Yacht Club

Editor Georges Bonello DuPuis Email: georges@rmyc.org Consulting Editor Stanley Borg Email: stanley@becommunications.com Design & Art Direction Porridge: www.weareporridge.com Email: hello@weareporridge.com Publication Co-ordinators Brian Cremona, Mark Napier

Spinnaker is published by BE Communications Ltd, 37, Amery Street, Sliema, SLM 1702 for the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

Printing Progress Press Distribution Spinnaker is the official publication of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and has a print run of 4,000 copies distributed to all RMYC members, boat and yacht importers, marine outlets, boats berthed at local marinas, ministries and embassies.

For information regarding promotion and advertising: Tel: 00 356 2134 2155, 2131 4719 Email: spinnaker@becommunications.com

8 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

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REVIEW

Getting Kon-Tiki ready to sail

Just Kon-Tikiing It’s four men in a boat as Mark Vella brings Kon-Tiki home.

W

hile writing this article I am on board a spanking new Dufour 455, Kon-Tiki on her maiden voyage to Malta. We have just come out of the Port of Trapani on the west coast of Sicily and are half way home.

This is my fifth experience delivering boats, four of which were new – XL, a 40-foot X Yacht from Koper, Ziffa, a 47-foot Hanse from Port Grimaud, and Elusive 2, a Beneteau First 45 also from the South of France.

When delivering a boat, the preparations and planning start from long before you set foot on the plane that takes you to the closest airport to the port of commissioning. There is a lot to plan and think about, but local agents are now well accustomed and will make sure you would have covered

10 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

every detail required for the delivery.

Ferdinand Grech contacted me several months ago to join him on the Kon-Tiki delivery trip from Cap D’Adge.

We met a few times and decided on the dates and the route we were going to take. Naturally all this was very subjective as it depended on a number of factors, not least the weather conditions. Ferdinand kept himself very busy preparing lists of things we could send by sea prior to departure, something in the region of a quarter of a 20-foot container load that even included a vacuum cleaner.

The big day arrived and the team – Ferdinand Grech, his son Nicki, close friend Alex Debono and myself – met at the airport way ahead of the scheduled departure time to Marseilles. There was

Bonifacio’s Fungus Rock

no way anyone was going to miss the boat. Once arrived in Marseilles, we drove to the airport and managed to get to Kon-Tiki in Cap D’Adge very early in the morning after some mishaps with the Tom Tom. We woke up early, after not too much sleep and embarked on the big job of positioning all the stuff sent from Malta onto the very good looking Kon-Tiki. Raymarine technicians were applying the final touches to our instruments. The crew created a chain passing the stuff off the quay and Ferdinand was given the arduous task of placing the stuff on the boat – just don’t dare ask him where anything was. Then it was time to go to the supermarket to buy food for the trip.

Dinner at a nice fish restaurant brought to an end a very busy and exciting day.

Nicky Grech, Alex Debono, Ferdinand Grech and Mark Vella

“A pout of water rose from the sea a couple of times and suddenly a large whale surfaced, high enough for us to see how huge it was, and swam graciously away no more than 200 metres from us.”

Kon-Tiki was now ready for her sea trials.

Christian Senciuc of S&D Yachts was as excited as we were. The typical Mistral in the Gulf of Lyons was blowing 25 knots and gusting at 32 knots outside the harbour. We had two reefs in the main and three reefs in the 140 per cent furling jib. The boat was handling very well and we touched double figure speeds – fantastic. Chris’s face was beaming with delight and Ferdinand’s was incredulous in awe. It was a super sail indeed.

Back in harbour we were all confident for the crossing after seeing how the boat had handled in those conditions and were now all very eager to set off.

We decided to stick to our original plan and go from Cap D’Adge to Marseilles, an 80-mile trip which would take about 12 hours in light conditions. Entering the old port of Marseilles is almost as spectacular as Valletta, but beware as here, your VHF will only speak to you in French. After

dinner on the quay, we spent the night in Marseilles and then set off to Porquerolles the next day.

It took us seven hours to cover 47 miles, again mostly motoring as there wasn’t much wind. Just outside Toulon, a powerboat was coming from the opposite direction but a bit further out. At one point, Alex shouted out “Whale” and in the powerboat’s wake, sure enough, a pout of water rose from the sea a couple of times and suddenly a large whale surfaced, high enough for us to see how huge it was, and swam graciously away no more than 200 metres from us. We didn’t see it again and didn’t even have the time to capture it on film, but it was nevertheless a great experience.

Pourquerolles is a beautiful little island with a character of its own, very similar to the Italian islands but very green and quite hilly. Berthing was not easy as the

small port is not very well protected and we did witness some glaring stunts by various skippers doing their utmost not to make a fool of themselves. We went on a short walk on the island and had a very pleasant evening cooking and eating some great steaks expertly prepared by the Chef de Cuisine, Nicky. Couple that with a few bottles of nice red wine, a bottle of port and Buddha Bar in the background and its starts sounding like we were making a huge sacrifice.

According to the original plan, Bonifacio was our next port of call.

This involved a 24-hour trip that went extremely well – again there wasn’t much wind but the sea was fine. We covered the 164 miles in good time for lunch in Bonifacio, a really picturesque place in the Southern tip of Corsica. We had lunch in one of the restaurants on the quay while dinner was at Maison Napoleon on top of the hill.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 11

REVIEW Our next stop on the original programme should have been La Caletta in Sardinia, but here things changed a little as Nicki had to attend to a wedding in Malta and we decided it would be better to drop him off in Olbia instead of La Caletta. We almost had him straight on the runway as the marina is only minutes away by car. Olbia Marina was opened two years ago and although it’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s a top notch marina – our Dufour 455 looked more like one of the tenders of the other boats in the marina. What was missing in the village, the marina staff provided themselves. They hosted a huge BBQ that evening for all marina users free of charge complete with Sardinian folklore dancing, I will spare you the details, but rest assured that it was a really enjoyable evening.

Then it was time for another important decision. A big discussion ensued between the three of us the next morning and the big question was whether to go down the East coast of Sardinia, explore and take the risks of going into the small and possibly not adequate marinas of La Caletta, Arbatax and Porto Corallo, or take the plunge and go for a 35 hour crossing straight to Trapani.

The answer to this question will be revealed in the next issue of Spinnaker.

Safety at sea Summer is here and at this time of the year, boating takes on a slightly different focus. Priorities become enjoying the sweltering heat, stunning sunsets, the beautiful morning calm, food, wine, family and friends are all essential ingredients in this wonderful mix. In this scenario it is extremely easy for one to drop one’s guard and overlook some basic safety checks that would otherwise be second nature even to a modestly experienced sailor.

Caution cannot be overstated or overemphasised since accidents can happen in the most mundane of circumstances and do not necessarily need to be accompanied by a long distance voyage in gruelling conditions. Message from GasanMamo Insurance.

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T R AV E L

Tag along to Marzamemi Spinnaker enjoys the sights, sounds and smells of Marzamemi.

Isola di Capo Passero

I

was invited to go up to Marzamemi, Sicily during the briefing for the race. The only drawback was that the boat in question was still on the hard and would be going down the next day on Thursday (the eve of the trip).

We met on board at 9:00pm, four in all. The wind had practically died down and we cast off at around 2:00am – I like starting early to avoid the sun as much as possible.

There was just one glitch – although the batteries were fully charged, the alternator was not working. We motor-sailed under a most beautiful night sky full of stars – this was not to last though and at 4:00am we had a full cloud cover. And then, as the skipper and I were on watch, out of nowhere, a huge light came out very low through the clouds. For an instance, we thought we were experiencing a huge meteorite, until it became obvious that it was a plane clearing the clouds for landing. We both laughed and hummed that famous space tune.

At dawn, after sighting land, we changed watch and went down for a rest. My colleagues reportedly saw a dolphin and several tortoises. Then, when we returned up on deck, we realised that we had a small visitor, a bird, taking a well deserved rest on our bimini.

In the vicinity of Isola di Capo Passero, we caught up with another Maltese sailing boat full of young men. They did not want us to overtake, so they revved their engine and sang along. I thought their choice of songs was a bit cheeky. They still managed to beat us to the port entrance though.

Once moored, we proceeded to the town centre where we had our first meal. We endeavour to feast as much as possible as there are several good restaurants which offer a feast of sea food at a decent price. The region also produces some superb wines, and these provided a nice accompaniment to our food.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 15

T R AV E L

A bird taking a rest on bimini

In the evening, we went to another restaurant – this was the best value on this trip. We got 12 different seafood platters, including main course, dessert, plenty of wine and water and to crown it, the Averna bottle was left on our table towards the end, all for the incredible price of €25 each.

Saturday morning was windy and overcast with a slight soiled drizzle.

We decide to go to Pachino by bus.

The bus service is not very frequent in this area and while waiting at the bus stop, we got a lift from a local friend to the main Pachino square. Needless to say the rain started to increase and we experienced quite a heavy downpour. We still managed to do some shopping, even though in the process, we got drenched by a passing car celebrating a wedding. Here, it is usual for wedding parties to car cade around town – all dressed up and hooting continuously – hours before they are due in church to make everyone aware that there is a wedding.

We ended up in a large garage near a petrol station to shelter from the rain. The garage turned out to be a winery so we opted for some wine tasting. We’re told that the wine here is cheaper than water, selling at €2 for three litres of wine. So we bought some, and proceeded to find somewhere to have a bite, after which we made it to the bus which took us back to the marina via Portopalo. We rested for a few hours on board and then went to the newly restored building which housed the official dinner for the participants.

On Sunday, we walked to the breakwater where I started the fleet for the race back. We left our berth at around 10:00am. The course was a beat with wind as expected on the nose all along. The wind and current pushed us off course on our approach to Malta, deviating us easterly on our approach through the fleet of over 30 ships at anchor on Hurd’s Bank. We arrived back in our berth at around 9:00pm to end a most enjoyable trip.

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16 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

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M A LT A S A I L I N G F E D E R A T I O N

Being ISAF’s Ambassador Being a member of the International Sailing Federation gives us the opportunity to improve the sport, says Anna Rossi, Malta Sailing Federation President.

W

riting for the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s magazine gives me pleasure since it allows me to better explain the role of the Malta Sailing Federation. Many may associate the national authority with dinghy and youth sailing – however this institution’s scope goes beyond this.

Firstly, each country that practises the sport of sailing and wishes to be accredited to the International Sailing Federation has to have a National Authority. The latter acts as an umbrella to all clubs and furthermore is the link between what happens at International Sailing Federation and in this case Malta. We are allowed to attend meetings and conferences and Malta’s vote is indeed equally as strong as that of the largest member.

Malta forms part of Group D and this gives us three seats on the Council. Alongside us are Cyprus, Lebanon, France, Greece, Monaco, Israel, San Marino, Italy and Turkey. These, in particular France and Italy, are the nations we talk to when it comes to voting, be it for a new President or indeed even with regards to the implementation of a new rule or regulation.

A person from each local club sits on the Malta Sailing Federation. Agendas of clubs vary but one thing is sure – we do it for the love and improvement of the sport. Funding for the coaching of our younger sailors is also high on our agenda.

This is the only way we can ascertain that tomorrow’s sailors receive a suitable and substantial formation.

Clubs are set up in a way where at least each club organises a race per year – this gives our sailors a better chance to compete outside of their club and to eventually compete in overseas events where sailors are chosen to go to certain events through the Malta Sailing Federation National ranking.

Most of our funds come through the Malta Olympic Committee and the Malta Sports Council. The lion’s share of these funds goes towards our Olympic team but in some way or another, indeed even by sailing alongside, all sailors stand to benefit.

We find it hard to collect direct sponsorship as the Malta Sailing Federation only organises one event per year – the Malta National Championships. I suppose that we can seek

18 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

“Funding for the coaching of our younger sailors is also high on our agenda. This is the only way we can ascertain that tomorrow’s sailors receive a suitable and substantial formation.” direct sponsorship but this could easily turn into a doubleedged sword since direct sponsorship toward the Federation would minimise the possibility of sponsorship for other clubs. We are aware that some foreign federations take a cut on sponsorship that boats have and also a cut on sponsored events that clubs host – this, for now, is not on our agenda.

In fact, we are thankful to the Royal Malta Yacht Club that forwards all the funds from the Ramla Bay Weekend – this is indeed a gesture of honour.

We are truly proud of Maya Podesta together with Seb Ripard and Benji Borg who are all sailing from event to event in the hope that they will qualify to represent Malta in the London 2012 Olympic Games. They are doing it under their own steam and this is of great encouragement for all other local sailors. The decision itself to opt to sail rather than settle down in a steady income earning job shows that our sport has a special place in their hearts.

In the past year the Malta Sailing Federation hosted the Eurosaf mid-year meeting. This lured 40 people from 10 nations who all spent three nights in Malta. Feedback shows that they wish to return and further still that they

are spreading the word that Malta is a good destination for sailors. The meetings were all held at the RMYC – this was a good move and a most valuable investment.

Other items on our agenda for 2011/2012 are attracting courses run by ISAF for potential race officials. Our dream would be to bid for and bring the ISAF Annual General Meeting to Malta – but this, for now, is just a dream.

On a philanthropic note, we are aware that sailing has donated funds to the Community Chest Fund. At least two clubs have given a donation at some point. I can now make public the fact that we are going to endeavour to organise a day event where each club can come up with a Sail for Charity campaign. I know that clubs need funds – however I’m equally sure that no club can turn down this most noble request. So I hope to discuss this with all clubs in the near future – and I hope that our umbrella will be large and strong enough to shelter those who are really in need.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a good summer.

Enjoy the warmth and the sea with your family and friends – ideally afloat or if not on the RMYC terrace.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 19

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NEWS

Going forward Mark Napier, Vice Commodore RMYC explains the need for the club’s pontoon project.

I

am writing this article on the eve of our extraordinary General Meeting for which members have been called to approve an amendment to our statute to enable the committee (on behalf of the club) to be able to enter into agreements with banking institutions for the financing of the pontoon project.

One might ask why does the club want to embark on such a project when we are already surrounded by established marinas on the island. The reason is simply due to the club’s success.

Those of us who were lucky enough to be involved in the running of the club for some years, will recall that 15 years ago, with a lot of collaboration from the Malta Maritime Authority and boat owners, we used to have available an empty pontoon in Ta’ Xbiex for our international races. During summer, many boats would stay away from their berths for months, cruising overseas or berthing on their free summer mooring in the vicinity of the owner’s summer residence. After the summer season, many berths would have been vacated as people used to winterise their boats at school start in late September.

As years progressed, with boating becoming more popular, land-hauling facilities could no longer handle the increased capacity. This meant that charges spiralled, with the local boats being left on their berths for most of the year.

Besides the reduction in the number of available berths, participation in our events increased, and we moved our major venues from Ta’ Xbiex to Manoel Island Marina and eventually to Grand Harbour Marina. In addition to these established marinas, we sometimes also utilised the Sliema ferries area for berthing our guests.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 21

NEWS These facilities and berths are now no longer available to us especially in the peak months so we have no option but to provide our own berthing facilities for our events. One must realise that when organising any boating activity, participants want to be next to each other and not randomly berthed away from each other. This issue is one of the major ingredients to achieve a successful event.

MISSING SOMETHING?

A to Z Yacht Needs main chandlery shop is situated at Ta’Xbiex Seafront opposite The Malta Yacht Club, we also operate a mobile chandlery so if you can’t come to us we will come to you.

So hopefully after the member’s approval, we shall be placing pontoons in front of our club. There is a certain risk factor as this area is open to the dreaded Grigale. I do not want to sound ungrateful to the authorities but I for one am disappointed that we were not also provided with the safe use of the breakwater jetty, as this would have provided us with a safety valve in such circumstances. The jetty was being earmarked for our use up to a few weeks ago, only to be given out to others at the 11th hour.

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S L A M R E G AT TA

Wham, bam, thank you Slam Strong winds, close racing and a fun-filled three days – the first Slam Regatta takes the spoils.

T

hree days of racing in near perfect conditions characterised the first Slam Regatta organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and sponsored by RLR Yachting, local agents for Slam clothing.

Race officer Georges Bonello Du Puis put the boats through their paces, laying some great courses which saw the boats off to a flying start on Friday afternoon just off the club’s premises.

They proceeded to the Fairway Buoy, up to a windward mark just off Exiles, back into a shifty Marsamxett harbour, out again to Exiles and ending again at the club. From the onset the first race gave an indication of what was to come with Juno, Mischief and Amica leading their respective classes. The race was followed by a well-attended happy hour at the club.

24 - SPINNAKER / Issue 01 25

On the second day, an overwhelming vote went in favour of more of what we had on the first day. And so it was, with another good course incorporating a triangular course off the Sliema front, then up to Mellieha Bay. The breeze filled in stronger than the day before with gusts of up to 20 knots from the WNW offering some exciting racing. The finish inside Ghadira was beautifully smooth. No changes were registered to the class leaders.

The day came to a close with a scrumptious BBQ held at The Point Break Restaurant at Ghadira Lido. However, heartbreak was in store for the Red Devils fans as Barca sunk Manchester United in the Champions League final.

On the third day, the forecasted strong WNW breeze took revenge with gusts of up to 24 knots. Two back to back races offered a great spectacle inside the bay with kites flying and close racing, sometimes too close.

Artie, till then head to head with Juno for the overall, was struck by disaster in the final race and the spoils went to the winners Juno. Mischief whitewashed IRC class B and placed second overall.

Amica made it a Dehler day by wrapping up the cruiser class.

Then it was time for the prize giving and it was up to the RLR Yachting management, using a time-share Slam sun hat, to give out the very generous prizes and original trophies to skippers and crews of the winning boats. One skipper got more than his share as he was bathed in Pol Roger Reserve Champagne, followed by a rinse with cold water from the ice bucket. No points for guessing who this was.

This first Slam Regatta was a big success, also thanks to the tireless selfless efforts of Matthew and Darius from RLR Yachting and last but not least, our Commodore, for making it all happen. A good turnout, fantastic venue and great fun all around.

Slam Regatta Final results Keel boats results

DingHy results

IRC A Juno 1st, Artie 2nd, Commanche Raider 3rd IRC B Mischief 1st, Sailaway 2nd

Optimist Open 3 – Karl Miggiani - 17 2 – Alex Esposito – 13 1 – Justin Busuttil – 6 – Overall

Cruiser class Amica 1st, Celeste 2nd Overall Juno 1st, Mischief 2nd, Commanche Raider/Artie 3rd

Optimist Cadets 3 – Shawn Miggiani – 16 2 – Katryna Esposito – 14 1 – Craig Vella – 6

Optimist Novices 3 – Benji Gatt Floridia – 18 2 – Nicholas Bonello Ghio – 16 1 – Lacey Aquilina – 10 Laser 4.7 3 – Matthew Dalli – 18 2 – Nicky Manduca – 9 1 – Thomas Sammut Alessi - 9 Feva R5 1 - Nicky Vassallo

SPINNAKER SPINNAKER // Issue Issue 25 01 - 25

RACING

He’s the Boss

Alex Thomson takes on one of the most extreme and challenging sports in the world.

P

art of an elite group of offshore sailors who race a particular style of boat designed for one man, Alex Thomson holds the record for being the youngest skipper ever to win a round the world race. In 15 years of sailing, Thomson has completed more than 250,000 nautical miles and his goal is to be the first Briton to ever win the Vendée Globe.

Hugo Boss has been sponsoring Thomson and his team since 2003 – this is one of the longest running sponsorships in the world of sailing. The Hugo Boss Sailing team includes 12 shore and boat crew, technical and logistical specialists. These are managed by Thomson and Team Director Stewart Hosford.

Single-handed racing Thomson is a singlehanded racer, which is one

26 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

of the most extreme and challenging sports in the world. Races normally last three months and are around 26,000 miles long.

Races are very tough. Apart from the challenge itself, life on board is not easy. There are no toilets, the bed is a simple sleeping mat and the kitchen is a small gas stove. During races, Thomson wears underwear that contains silver elements as this stops bacteria forming.

Long periods of sleep are also not possible – Thomson sleeps 20 minutes every four hours and can go more than 24 hours without sleeping during a race.

There is also the physical toll.

Thomson, for instance, must move the 100kg sail up 29 metres, all on his own. Due to all the physical work, Thomson consumes 5,000 calories a day – all food is freeze dried to make it last the journey and each packet is nutritionally balanced to give Thomson enough calories to stay strong and healthy.

“Three weeks before the Vendée Globe was due to commence in November 2008, Thomson was dramatically struck by a French fishing vessel.”

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 27

RACING

The racing yachts There are two Hugo Boss racing yachts: Boss 99 and Boss 8055. Both boats, which are monohull Open 60 class boats, were specially designed by Thomson for sailing short-handed.

statistics Boss 99

Boss 8055

Weight: 10.5t

Weight: 8t

Length: 18.28m

Length: 18.28m

Width: 6.5m

Width: 6.0m

Height of mast (air draught): 31.65m

Height of mast: 29m

Depth of keel: 4.5m

Depth of keel: 4.5m

Next race Thomson launched his solo racing career with a bang, breaking the world distance record in 2003. However his first two solo round the world attempts were met with frustration when structural failure of his yacht forced him to retire early from the Vendée Globe 2004 and Velux 5 Oceans Race 2006.

Three weeks before the Vendée Globe was due to commence in November 2008, Thomson was dramatically struck by a French fishing vessel. His team fought against the clock to finish the repairs in record time to achieve

the impossible and get Alex to the start line.

Thomson’s dream were shattered after only three days when he discovered Hugo Boss was letting in water. On inspecting the damage it was decided that the repairs could not be completed in time to get Thomson back to the race. Devastated, Thomson announced his retirement from the Vendée.

Yet Thomson is determined to return and complete and compete in the Vendée Globe 2012, and achieve his dream to become the first Briton to win the Vendée Globe.

Hugo Boss in Malta Hugo Boss celebrated the pre-launch of the first mono brand Hugo Boss store on the Maltese islands by welcoming the Hugo Boss sailing boat. The Hugo Boss boat epitomises the brand’s self-assured elegance and sophistication, and the sailing team’s extreme dedication and discipline mark the brand’s confidence and desire to be at the forefront in style and in sport.

The yacht’s stay in Malta commenced with a sailing trip on Saturday morning, where journalists were invited

28 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

to embark on an exciting adventure with the Hugo Boss sailing crew. The first trip was followed by lunch at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, where the evening reception also took place.

On Sunday, guests were again invited to enjoy the beauty of the boat at sea. The select few who had the opportunity to meet the crew and sail onboard went around the island on an exciting and adventurous journey during which the favourable wind allowed them to sail at a speed of 15 knots.

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SAILING

Having a bailli

Some of the most beautiful yachts in the world will grace the Grand Harbour during the Trophée Bailli de Suffren.

T

he 10th edition of the Trophée Bailli de Suffren, the international race for traditional classic yachts, left Saint Tropez on June 25 and will arrive at the Grand Harbour Marina, Malta on July 6. The prize giving ceremony and gala dinner will follow at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, which is also one of the patrons of the Trophée Bailli de Suffren.

Named after Pierre André de Suffren, Admiral of the French Navy and the Maltese Ambassador at Versailles, the race is a truly unique event celebrating the grandeur of traditional sailing yachts.

The Trophée Bailli de Suffren race is carried out under CIM rules for classic boats and is organised by the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo, the Club Nautico Corallo & Lega Navale Italiana, Sciacca, and the Royal Malta Yacht Club and is coordinated by the Marenostrum Racing Club, Saint-Tropez. Departing from Saint Tropez, the yachts stop at Porto Rotondo, Sciacca and finally Malta.

Apart from being one of the most beautiful races in the Mediterranean, this off-shore race is a gentlemen’s race. Competition is friendly between these illustrious and respected boats and the emphasis is on the pleasure of sailing, calling and partying together at ports in beautiful sites of the Mediterranean, while respecting Corinthian spirit, fair play, the art de vivre and traditional naval etiquette.

This year, prestigious participations include that of Marie Tabarly, daughter of the famous French sailor Eric Tabarly, as well as of the renowned schooner Atlantic, built by Dutch yachtsman Ed Kastelein.

After restoring and recreating a number of famous yachts such as the Thendara, Borkumriff, Zaca a te Moana and most recently the Herreshoff racing schooner Eleonora, Ed Kastelein planned his ultimate masterpiece – the recreation of the three-mast schooner Atlantic, which no one thought would ever sail again.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 31

SAILING The original Atlantic was commissioned by New York Yacht Club member Wilson Marshall and designed by William Gardner, one of America’s foremost designers of large yachts. From the moment Atlantic went to sea, it was clear that she was an exceptionally fast and beautiful schooner. When a yacht in 1903 hits 20 knots during her sea trials, she is a promising yacht, but even then nobody could imagine two years later this yacht would set a record that would stand unmatched for almost a century.

“The recreation of the Atlantic was an ambitious project. Measuring 185 feet over deck, the Atlantic is the largest classic racing schooner ever to be recreated.”

The recreation of the Atlantic was an ambitious project. Measuring 185 feet over deck, the Atlantic is the largest classic racing schooner ever to be recreated. Her graceful sheerline and long overhangs accentuate her grace while her waterline length of 42 meters and narrow beam are a promise of unmatched speed under sail. Her spars tower some 45 meters above the waterline and support a staggering sail area of 1750m2 sail, more than two and a half times that of the already awesome J-Class yachts.

Kastelein was also determined to honour the original Atlantic’s fine detail as well as a sail plan that was original to that of the schooner’s victorious 1905 Transatlantic Race. Kastelein also gathered copies of dozens of drawings of the original Atlantic from various archives in the USA. Unfortunately very little drawings of the interior have been preserved, but with the help of photographs Kastelein was able to copy the colonial style and atmosphere which characterised the original Atlantic.

Thanks to Kastelein, the dream of seeing one of the fastest and most beautiful yachts in history comes alive as she sails into the Grand Harbour for the Trophée Bailli de Suffren.

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26/05/2011 12:18

INTERVIEW

Balance is important from a techn perspective, not just a physical one, because you have to be absolutely accurate with your sail trimming and helming.

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SAILING FOR OLYMPIC TREASURE

Sebastian Ripard and Benji Borg have a place at the London 2012 Olympics in their sights.

nical

d

B

oth coming from families with strong nautical backgrounds, Sebastian Ripard, 24, and Benji Borg, 21 have sailing in their blood and London in their sights, with the potential to represent Malta in the fastest sailing event at the 2012 Olympics – the 49er Class. Here, they tell Spinnaker about their training, racing and moving up the rankings during 2011.

Spinnaker: Since starting sailing together, just over a year ago, what have been your biggest achievements?

Sebastian Ripard, Benji Borg: Our own personal highlight was overtaking the 2008 gold medalist in a couple of races at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFR in Palma in March. This event attracted about 170 boats from 53 countries, in one of the seven events of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. In actual competition, our best this year was at the Olympic Garda Eurolymp 2011 Regatta in Lake Garda in May. Even though we had to miss three of the races due to another 49er boat crashing into our mast, we still managed to finish 12th out of a field of 22 boats.

S: With Olympic qualification for 2012 coming up, how have you both been preparing for this?

SR/BB: We have undertook as much high quality racing as possible against all the leading 49er teams, spending this spring and summer competing in the ISAF World Cup events in Europe, The Trofeo Princess Sofia in Palma, Mallorca in April, The Delta Lloyd in Medemblik, Netherlands in May and The Skandia Sail4Gold Regatta, in Weymouth, UK in June, which is the actual venue for the 49er Olympic sailing events.

We also appointed coach Kolja Volkers, who used to coach the German 49er team from 2000 to 2008. During the Garda event, Volkers roped in Max Groy, an ex-49er sailor who represented Germany in the 2004 Olympics to help us with our technique. In June, in Weymouth, we managed to work on our acceleration training and we won the first practice race on our first day on the water.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 35

INTERVIEW Over the coming winter, we’re hoping to bring a group of international teams to train with us in Malta – this should also boost Malta’s profile as a training destination, especially in the colder months.

S: What other races do you have coming up over the 2011 season?

SR/BB: Our next event will be the 49er Youth World Championships at the end of July in Travemunder, Germany. After that we’ll be competing in the 49er class at The Extreme Sailing Series, which kicks off its European leg in August in Cowes, then takes us on to Trapani, back up to Nice and finally Almeria, Spain in mid-October.

S: As you mentioned, you’ve been invited to compete in the 49er class at The Extreme Sailing Series. How did that come about?

SR/BB: I guess there was an incentive this year to get as many new countries competing at the ESS, and being the only Maltese 49er in the fleet I guess we’ll stand out. For the event, we will be known as Team EC, as EC are our exclusive sponsor for the ESS events – without their financial help, participation in the series would have been nigh-on impossible.

S: What’s the biggest challenge you face sailing a 49er?

SR/BB: The most challenging aspect to sailing the 49er is balance. Since the boat moves very fast doing up to 13 knots upwind and 15 knots downwind, it requires a lot of core stability to keep your balance while executing manoeuvres or even simply sailing fast through waves. Balance is important from a technical perspective, not just a physical one, because you have to be absolutely accurate with your sail trimming and helming. There is no leeway for error and any small mistake can leave you swimming after a capsized boat.

S: When will you know if you’ve definitely qualified for London 2012?

SR/BB: There are 21 places available at the Olympic Games – 15 nations will qualify in the 2011 December World Championships in Perth, Australia and five will qualify at the 2012 May World Championships in Croatia.

The Malta 49ers are proudly sponsored by EC English Language Centres, Cisk Excel, Malta’s first low-carbohydrate Lager Beer, RLR Yachting Ltd, The Malta Tourism Authority, The Creative Partners Ltd, Kurt Arrigo and Bodyworks.

36 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

We’d like to compete in Perth but at the moment we don’t have quite enough to fund a trip to Australia – however, that’s something we’re working on. Otherwise we’ll wait until May 2012 to qualify at the World Championships in Croatia.

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IIG BANK RACE

Rounding up in 30 knots round Filfla Spinnaker relives the excitement of the IIG Bank Round the Islands Race. Photos by Rene Rossignaud.

G

rey skies and heavy airs greeted the starters to the start of the Round the Islands Race – a modified version of the Gattopardo Race of yesteryear – organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and sponsored by IIG Bank.

The prospect of heading out into the infamous Maltese Grigale with winds gusting 20 to 24 knots got the adrenaline pumping among the five crews, as the majority opted to a reef from the start gun. In anticipation of the conditions and to attract more starters the club wisely opted to shorten the course, which sent the fleet round Filfla only.

38 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

A combined start just off the club premises proved to be rather cramped for the jewel of the fleet, Quick Silver, the club’s own mini maxi, which was over the line by no less than 14 seconds at the bow while the crew at the stern were not.

Commanche Raider II and Ton Ton led the fleet out of Marsamxett, crossing swords from the start and continuing to do so up till the very end of the race.

After having to turn back to the line, Quick Silver started trucking once out of the bay, overtaking everything in its path and making the Munxar buoy at the head of the fleet.

Cracking open at this point, kites were hoisted, but as the valiant crew battled with the monster chute on Quick Silver, Commanche and Ton Ton left her in their wake, with Inspiration and About Time closing in fast.

It was Commanche that rounded Filfla first, with Ton Ton hot at her heels. As Quick Silver approached Filfla, the ENE breeze was topping 30 knots.

It was a beat back up to Munxar with Quick Silver, with a reef in, carving its own groove in the heavy seas which she took amazingly in her stride, catching up with the race leaders as time passed.

Inspiration went to a second reef to handle the condition with its reduced crew.

Two conflicting episodes made and broke the hype on board Quick Silver – spotting dolphins off Munxar and the prospect of one of the crew joining them in the drink as a man overboard situation was narrowly avoided, with the help of a stanchion.

More drama was to hit the boats at the front with Commanche narrowly avoiding going up on the hard at The Point, with a spi sheet under the boat approaching the rocks doing, “16 knots” – no one believes Mike, especially after spending most of his race underwater. A tactical duel inside Marsamxett harbour left Ton Ton catching no joy. Over the line it was Commanche taking line honours followed by Ton Ton, a battered Quick Silver, About Time and Inspiration.

Considering the conditions it was an achievement finishing the course safely and in one piece and a great rush for everyone involved – the saying that, “The bigger the sea the bigger the boat” does indeed hold true.

IIG Bank Round the Islands Race Final results on corrected times

Comanche Raider II

MLT1248

R

1.146

15:17:31

05:12:31

05:58:09

Tonton

MLT274

R

1.092

15:19:07

05:14:07

05:43:01

1

Inspiration

MLT222

R

1.035

16:41:20

06:36:20

06:50:12

5

Quick Silver

MLT540

C

1.145

15:27:40

05:22:40

06:09:27

3

About Time

MLT4550

C

1.020

16:14:01

06:09:01

06:16:24

4

2

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 39

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NEWS

Great sailing fun The Mapei Second Edition Ragusa Weekend Regatta creates a storm in a fish bowl.

I

t’s that time of the year again when all the RMYC faithful sailors gather for their trip to Sakalleo. This year, the trip was once again sponsored by Mapei, setting up the 14 registered yachts to make their dash to Marina di Ragusa, not only to get line honours but to be the first to savour the gastronomic odyssey.

With the breeze peaking at 24 knots from the NW, the yachts were looking to embark on a tough seven hours of back breaking fetch, sometimes tight on the wind in the heavy seas from the previous night. Moondance was the first victim of the heavy sea, opting to retire, followed by For Pete’s Sake. The procession was led by Escape, which after an eventful start, valiantly sailed by the Master and Commodore.

This time around, Commanche took the line honours, finishing the course in under six hours. However, Ton Ton made it three out of three, winning the racing class on corrected time with the autopilot on Escape claiming the cruiser class.

The Mapei Second Edition Ragusa Weekend Regatta presented a mixture of conditions with one constant feature – great sailing fun. Now in its second edition, the race was a great success, also thanks to everyone, especially Alex and Alana sunbathing on the breakwater, but most of all to the sponsors Mapei for making it all happen.

It took Juno three hours to take the lead, which it kept to the finish to take the line honours after six hours and 31.26 minutes. Juno was followed by Rebel, Commanche and Ton Ton which stuck together like glue, having their own private party. At the end, Ton Ton and the rookie Kon Tiki dominated the racing and cruiser classes respectively, on corrected time.

By sunset all the boats were moored in the classy blue-lit marina, but the colour that attracted most was the luminous green of the three-foot straws which all sailors used to sip what was claimed to be a mixture of all the whites in a fish bowl.

On day two, some diehards opted to take part in a locally organised race – here, the Maltese contingent made us proud, with Ton Ton making a clean sweep.

On the third day, we had near perfect conditions. A mixed fleet of Maltese and Italian yachts gathered for the start of the last race to Malta. As the 15 knot breeze backed to the NW, kites were the order of the day for half the course. As the wind went forward to the west the crossing became a fetch in champagne sailing conditions, with the autopilot calling the shots on board Escape as skipper and crew took their wellearned siesta.

Mapei Second Edition Ragusa Weekend Regatta – race results Race one IRC Racer Class Ton Ton 1st, Juno 2nd, Commanche 3rd IRC Cruiser Class Kon Tiki 1st, Escape 2nd, Excellance 3rd

Race two IRC Racer Class Ton Ton 1st, Commanche 2nd, Juno 3rd IRC Cruiser Class Escape 1st, DU4 2nd, Kon Tiki 3rd

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 41

GOZO

Triple Handed Round Gozo in three knots of breeze Racing was slow but the competition was still keen at the Triple Handed Round Gozo Race.

N

o less than 16 yachts lined up to starters orders on Saturday, May 14 for the Triple Handed Round Gozo Race organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club. There was just one problem though – someone forgot to invite the wind.

The boats headed out of Marsamxett harbour in a fickle breeze, falling in line with Artie leading the pack and Mischief holding the rear.

The breeze was a touch and go affair, playing Russian roulette with the keen shorthanded crews, who still made the best of what there was. Whether inshore or offshore it was a gamble and a matter of luck that decided who moved and who didn’t. Nonetheless it was a beautiful day for a cruise but not for racing. The race committee opted not to

shorten course and crews were looking at spending a long time bobbing up and down, sometimes drifting in circles, and the prospect of burning the midnight oil to finish.

As the midday sun began to wane and while the hot boats at the front were jostling for line honours, it was heating up at the back when Escape and Mischief crossed swords, with the former coming upon starboard doing one knot and the latter doing two knots – they had to head toward Ragusa to avoid two fishing lines trailing 500 metres behind.

It was at this point that Escape suddenly picked up speed with a plume of black smoke – being the first to retire, it headed towards the Blue Lagoon to watch the FA Cup Final. This move

caught on like wildfire and most of the fleet followed suit, leaving just four diehards to continue.

After playing snakes and ladders all round the course the four diehards, Rebel, Juno, Ton Ton and Artie finally entered Marsamxett harbour, only to tackle the ultimate final leg in absolute calm glassy water. It seemed like forever to cross the finish line right up inside Msida creek – it took Rebel no less than 11:49:22 to finish and take line honours.

On the whole it was a great day – the racing was slow but the competition was keen as always.

Twelve DNF’s and four finishers defined the outcome. On corrected time, the placings put Ton Ton in first place, followed by Juno and Artie.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 45

FOREIGN NEWS

Racing around the world

Block Island Race Week presented

by Rolex Photos by Rolex / Daniel Forster Two races provided a solid finish for the Storm Trysail Club’s biennial Block Island Race Week XXIV presented by Rolex. The races determined IRC, PHRF and One-Design winners in 14 classes along with titlists for the 2011 IRC East Coast Championship, the J/122 National Championship and the J/109 East Coast Championship.

“Today, we won the start of the first race, so that was pretty easy, and we won the race by two to three minutes. The second race was closer, and it was only on the third leg that we took the lead. We all finished within one and a half minutes of each other, so after an hour of sailing – that’s pretty close.”

John Cooper’s (Springfield, MO) Mills 43 Cool Breeze. Dickie was awarded a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner timepiece for turning in the best performance in Red Fleet, and his team manager and crew member Chad Corning (Larchmont, N.Y.) called the team’s results, “The best we could ask for.”

Brady added that Swartz is especially pleased with becoming the 2011 IRC East Coast Champion. “He has spent a lot of time on this 52 programme, and it fits well with us right now. The team, the chemistry – all stars are in line at the moment.”

The J/122s competed for their national title while sailing in the IRC 3 class, and while it was Mike Bruno/Tom Boyle/Jim Callahan’s (Irvington, N.Y.) Wings that moved into the top three after day two to finish second and snatch that trophy.

Craig Albrecht’s (Sea Cliff N.Y.) Farr 395 Avalanche topped the class overall, which was no small achievement with 13 boats competing.

After a slow start on the first two days, when light wind conditions postponed racing until late afternoon, officials cancelled racing altogether on Wednesday but then amped up again on Thursday with a lively running of the event’s traditional Around the Island Race.

Peter Cunningham’s (George Town, Grand Cayman, CAY) PowerPlay, fell from second to third, equal on points with Interlodge but losing to a tiebreaker.

Interlodge was awarded a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner timepiece for its top IRC performance in the Around the Island Race while Vesper received the IRC East Coast Championship Clarion Partners Trophy.

“In our class we had all 52 footers, so the competition was side-by-side a lot,” said America’s Cup veteran Gavin Brady (Annapolis, Md.), who stepped in today to drive when Swartz had to leave the island early.

Lawrence Dickie’s (Greenwich, Conn.)

Ker 43 Ptarmigan had a perfect four-race score line up until the last day, when it finished 2-2. However, the performance was still good for a victory in IRC 2 with a whopping 15-point margin over

46 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

Bill Sweetser (Annapolis, Md.) was admiring his trophy for winning the J/109 East Coast Championship even before the awards presentation. “We brought it with us because we won it last year,” he said, “so I guess we deliver it back to the organisers and they turn around and give it back to us. This is the first time anyone has won it twice in a row.” Sweetser’s entry Rush led the 15-boat J/109 class from day two and entered this final day with eight points over Donald Filippelli’s (Amagansett, N.Y.) Caminos

Rolex Capri Sailing Week and Rolex Volcano Race Photo by Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi Rolex Capri Sailing Week is an annual fixture on the turquoise waters of Capri, providing spirited competition early in the Mediterranean racing season.

Hosted by the Yacht Club Capri, the regatta provides four days of highly competitive racing for a number of classes. The strikingly picturesque island of Capri provides a stunning backdrop to the on-the-water racing action in the Bay of Naples.

2011 marks the inaugural running of what will become an annual 400-nautical mile offshore race from Gaeta, just north of Naples, south to the volcanic island of Stromboli and then north to the finish off Capri. Open to all maxi yacht classes, and organised by the International Maxi Association in conjunction with the Comitato Vela nel Golfo di Gaeta and the Yacht Club Capri, the race forms part of Rolex Capri Sailing Week.

X-35 European Championships – Punta Ala A one and a half hours’ drive south from Pisa, through Tuscan countryside and a wooded hilly peninsula, is the splendid marina of Punta Ala. Last May it was the venue of the X35 European Championships hosted by the Punta Ala Yacht Club for which, Godwin Zammit Rear Commodore Racing, RMYC, was a member of the International Jury for the event.

The championship attracted 18 boats from this strict one design class for a week of very keen inshore racing held in the waters between Punta Ala and the island of Elba, an ideal location for this type of racing. The event consisted of 10 windwardleeward races held over four days. The courses consisted of two laps around a course usually around one and a half nautical miles long. 18 identical boats sailed by technically competent crews produced some extremely close and competitive sailing with tight starts and crowded mark roundings – these were both tactically interesting and exciting to watch.

The weather in Punta Ala appeared to have been commissioned for the event. Each day early in the morning there would be hardly a ripple on the sea but by 11:00 am the breeze would fill in, building up to a steady 10-14 knot wind just in time for the first race scheduled for 12:00 noon. Three races would be completed before 5:00 pm after which the wind would slowly die down to allow everyone to enjoy dinner on the terrace of the Punta Ala Yacht Club in full view of the stunning red sun as it set behind Elba.

The jury was out on the water every day to watch the sailing first hand but despite the closeness of the competition, incidents and protests were few.

The event, organised by the X35 Class Association and the Punta Ala Yacht Club, was a thoroughly enjoyable one for all who took part. Prizes were awarded soon after the last race on Saturday afternoon. After the awards ceremony, drinks and snacks kept the crews in good spirits with talk of the past week and plans for the next encounter.

Portofino Rolex Trophy Photos by Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi The 2011 Portofino Rolex Trophy is the third edition of a regatta dedicated by Rolex and the Yacht Club Italiano to classic yachts that form part of the rich history of sailing. The regatta is by invitation only for wooden yachts in the J-, 12-and 8-metre classes.

SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 47

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SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 49

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SPINNAKER / Issue 25 - 51

FOOD

52 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

Celebrating quality ingredients The White Sheep share some of their favourite recipes. Photo by Christian Sant Fournier.

There are no better days than balmy ones, out at sea, for an easy salad which can be put together in minutes. They are quick and easy, but by no means unsatisfying or boring, say The White Sheep’s salad queens, Tania and Sarah. They tell Spinnaker that quality ingredients and proper dressings are key. Here, they share some recipes of their favourite food.

Smoked trout and avocado salad [makes 2] Smoked trout is beautifully delicate in taste and marries so well with an avocado that’s just rightly ripe. Keep the avocado looking good by squeezing some lemon over it. Oliveology’s 17ºC organic, limited edition oil is the perfect dressing for this salad. Made from unripe Koroneiki olives and crushed with fresh lemons, oranges and thyme, it gives an exquisite citrus twist to a superior Greek oil.

You need • 100gr packet of Friultrota smoked trout • 1 avocado • 1 lemon • Local rocket leaves • Oak leaf lettuce • Toasted slivered almonds – you can prepare these in advance and keep in an airtight container • 50gr Aragon Spanish olives • Oliveology 17ºC organic extra virgin olive oil

Method

For the salad

Halve the avocado and then cut each half into slices. Place over a bed of oak leaf lettuce and rocket leaves. Add slices of the smoked trout.

Scatter a few Aragon black olives and slivered almonds. Grate the rind of the lemon over the fish. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the avocado and finish off with a drizzle of Oliveology oil.

• Local rocket leaves

Roast artichoke heart, jamon serrano and manchego salad [makes 2] Our jamon serrano – Spanish cured ham – hails from Teruel, a remote and mountainous town in the Teruel province.

It is one of the most arid areas of Spain, providing the perfect natural environment for the curing process of the ham. Marry this with Seggiano roast artichoke hearts and Villarejo unpastuerised manchego from Cuenca and you have simple perfection on a plate, and in a matter of minutes.

You need

• Oak leaf lettuce • 6 Seggiano roast artichoke hearts • 16 slices Teruel jamon serrano • 50gr Villarejo manchego cheese • Toasted pine nuts

For the dressing • Seggiano extra virgin olive oil • Forvm Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar • Seggiano acacia honey

Method Arrange the oak leaf lettuce and rocket leaves in a serving bowl. Quarter the artichoke hearts and place randomly over the leaves. Place loosely-twisted Serrano ham slices and shave the manchego over the salad. Scatter the pine nuts and drizzle lightly with acacia honey. Mix one part vinegar with two parts olive oil very well and dress the salad just before serving.

The combination of hummus, a quality, barrel-aged feta and the citrusy notes of the sumac, is uniquely tasty and refreshing.

The ingredients go on half a toasted, local ftira, so you can prepare a half per person on a serving dish, and serve the green salad in a separate bowl. Guests can help themselves at leisure, in between glasses of a crisp Pinot Bianco.

You need For the ftira • 1 local ftira, halved • Around 200gr hummus • 150gr barrel-aged feta cheese • 50gr Tenuta di Forci marinated olives • A couple of pinches of Arabica Food & Spice wild sumac • 40gr Seggiano ovendried cherry tomatoes

For the side salad • Local rocket leaves • Oak leaf lettuce • Cherry tomatoes

Hummus, feta and wild sumac salad

• 80gr Seggiano roasted onions

[makes 2]

• Arabica Food &

For the dressing

Spice pomegranate and orange blossom vinegar • Seggiano extra virgin olive oil, which has the right amount of pungency for a dressing • Seggiano acacia honey

Method Drizzle the ftira halves with extra virgin olive oil. Place under a hot grill. Take out when nice and golden and spread with a generous helping of hummus. With your fingers, roughly break the feta cheese over the hummus. Top with marinated olives, oven-dried cherry tomatoes and sprinkle with wild sumac.

Drizzle very lightly with olive oil and place on a serving dish.

Toss the lettuce and rocket leaves with fresh cherry tomatoes and roasted onions in a serving bowl.

Mix equal amounts of the olive oil and the vinegar with some honey (a teaspoon or two, depending on how much dressing you need). Shake very well until it has a thick-ish consistency. Coat the salad lightly just before you serve, and finish off with an extra drizzle of olive oil.

The above is a small selection of salads available at The White Sheep, also for take-out, along with bespoke fresh food boxes. All products used are exclusively available at The White Sheep, as is the hummus, which is freshly prepared by Tania and Sarah every morning. Call on 21 315 222 to discuss your requirements. The White Sheep is at 405 Rue D’Argens, Gzira, Malta. www.thewhitesheep.eu SPINNAKER SPINNAKER // Issue Issue 25 01 - 53

INTERVIEW

MAYA THE WIND BE WITH YOU Maya Podesta hears London 2012 calling.

T

raining is back in full swing for Maya Podesta in preparation for the European Championships in Helsinki, taking place in the first week of July. In fact she has just undergone a week of intense daily training, both on and off the water, with British coach Keith Wilkins, who has multiple World titles in the Laser Masters category.

“We’ve been really lucky with the weather and had a variety of conditions ranging from very light winds to a strong NorthEasterly with big waves and a big swell – it’s been perfect as we’ve been able to cover all forms of training. My boat speed has been improving lately, and I’m feeling fast on the water, which I’m happy about,” Maya says.

Maya spent three weeks in Perth, Australia – the location of the 2011 World Championships and first Olympic qualifier during March/April – where she was part of the Emerging Nations Programme. Here, she concentrated on fitness, with daily gym sessions at 6.30am, training on the water, and theory sessions in the evening.

“It was a tough but great experience. It’s amazing how there is always so much more to learn. I look forward to going back there at the end of the year, in a bid to qualify Malta a nation place for London 2012. It gets pretty windy when the sea-breeze fills in, and I like the wind.”

54 - SPINNAKER / Issue 25

After Australia, Maya was only back in Malta for a week before heading off to Hyeres for the Semaine Olympique Francaise, an ISAF Sailing World Cup event. This provided more valuable racing experience for the Olympic hopeful.

“My boat speed has been improving lately, and I’m feeling fast on the water, which I’m happy about.”

“Overall I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to, but I finished the regatta on a good note, having rounded the first windward mark fourth in the last race. I ended up finishing the race in 19th place.”

Maya will be participating in her second World Cup event for 2012, Kiel Week in Germany, towards the end of June. This will serve as good practice for the Europeans two weeks later.

In August Maya will travel to the UK for the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta, which is the test-event for the London 2012 Olympics.

“This should be a good regatta, with only the best sailor from each country allowed to participate.”

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Summer Collection 2011

Summer Collection 2011 01.06.11 17:30