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Sailing boats don’t come any hotter…ITA 2929

by Georges Bonello DuPuis on 27 Oct 2001
This year’s Middle Sea Race has managed to attract one of the hottest and newest Maxis the world has ever seen. “IDEA” is a brand new
Nauta 78 foot Maxi, built by Cantiere Latini in Italy and designed by the famous San Diego based firm “Reichel-Pugh”. The Napolitan
Raffaele Raiola owns her and should reach our shores within the next few days to compete in this years’ Middle Sea Race.

“IDEA” has recently participated in various regattas in the Mediterranean IMS circuit and has shown great potential for record-breaking
sailing. In fact, during the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Regatta held in Porto Cervo, “IDEA” was always the first boat home on elapsed time.
Her rating certificate is very heavily penalised due to her massive masthead spinnakers. With an upwind sail area of 357 square metres
and a keel, deep enough to dredge a few bays in Malta (4.2m), “IDEA” is at her max when going downwind. Her spinnaker has a surface
area of 440 square metres and could easily prove to be the winning formula, with the right conditions, to break the course record
established by “Zephyrus IV” last year. “Zephyrus IV”, another Reichel-Pugh Design, smashed the previous course record held by
Riviera di Rimini by some eight hours.



On the local scene, the “Strait Dealer” syndicate has been training on a daily basis and is getting to terms with the shear raw speed of this
J-125. Their recent victory in the Figure of Eight Race last weekend proved that she must be the fastest local boat around. With the right
downwind conditions she could easily be the first Maltese boat back home. However, being first home does by no way indicate victory in
the Middle Sea Race. Due to complex rating systems, one has to wait till the last boat crosses the finish line to calculate the overall winner.


The 22nd Edition of the Middle Sea Race starts on Saturday, 3rd November at 11.00hrs from the waters opposite the Royal Malta Yacht
Club and takes sailors on a 607-mile race around the Island of Sicily.
B&G Zeus SR AUSRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSwitch One Design

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