Alfa Romeo bids for Clean Sweep

by Edward Rowe, Alfa Romeo on 22 Oct 2003 New Zealand skipper Neville Crichton and Australian-built 'Alfa Romeo' will bid this weekend (25 October 2003) to become the first skipper and yacht to have a clean sweep of wins in all the Blue Water Ocean Classics in one 12 month period.

'Alfa Romeo's first win was in the 2002 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race and the
last race of the season is on Saturday with the running of the Rolex Middle
Sea Race in Malta. In between Hobart and Malta New Zealand skipper,
Crichton, and 'Alfa Romeo' have taken the line honours in every Blue Water
Classic and taken their total race win account to 63 wins.

'Alfa Romeo' will line up against 47 boats from 13 countries in the tiny
Mediterranean island of Malta in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Now in its 23rd
edition the annual 607-mile offshore race, sailed anti-clockwise around the
Italian island of Sicily and the adjacent islands is organised by the Royal
Malta Yacht Club. The event has again this year attracted a significant
number of the world's fastest racing yachts.

'Our score so far might indicate that we are favourites,' says Neville
Crichton. 'But a line-honours result is by no means guaranteed. We are up
against some impressive yachts, including Tony Bullimore's Team Pimsic, a
massive 30-metre catamaran, has already broken many sailing records around
the world and has the form to smash the race record. It is going to be a
very tough race.'

A classic offshore race, with a significant set of historical links and
landmarks, is preceded by two inshore coastal races this week. Sailed from
Marsamxett Harbour, Wednesday will see the fleet race a 36-mile course out
and back to the rocky outcrop of Filfla to the South of Malta. Thursday
will see the fleet race a shorter 27-mile course to the island of Comino
and back. Comino is a small island between the two main islands of the
Maltese Archipelago, Gozo and Malta. Friday will be a day off, allowing all
crews to make final preparations before the start of the Rolex Middle Sea
Race the following morning, Saturday, at 11:00.

Malta is a magnificent sailing venue at this time of year, fair winds and
temperatures in the mid-20s, all set to one of the most magnificent city
backdrops imaginable. The Royal Malta Yacht Club occupies the 18th century
Fort Manoel and sits at the Eastern end of Manoela Island.

Five hundred metres across the Lazzaeretto Creek on a long peninsula is the
fortified city of Valletta, historic home of the Knights of the Order of St
John, along with countless other significant historical buildings and
sites. The start and finish line for all races is strung out across this
gap.

Amongst the 47 entries are eleven Maltese yachts including Market Wizard,
last year's overall winner. Classes eligible to sail the Rolex Middle Sea
Race include Classics, IMS and IRC type yachts along with Multihulls.

In the latter group is one boat, Tony Bullimore's Team Pimsic, capable of
pulverising the current course record, which has stood at 64hrs 49mins
57secs since 2000 when the American yacht Zephyrus IV broke the previous
standard.