Global Sailing highlight show World on Water Oct 27.23 44Cup, Rolex Middle Sea, ETNZ Leave Spain

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Highlights of what happened globally in the sport of sailing in the last 7 days.

On a day when many would have looked at the sea-state and opted for a ‘maintenance day’ it was all systems go at Emirates Team New Zealand who were determined to take their AC75 ‘Te Rehutai’ out to experience conditions that the team haven’t sailed before in Barcelona in an AC75. For the team it’s now relocate to Auckland before the next event in Jeddah.

This is your weekly Global Sailing highlights show, the World on Water, October 27, 2023.

On some days conditions can be marginal for a committee to lay on yacht racing. Today at the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina there was nothing marginal about the wind strength on the Bay of Gibraltar. Despite the first warning signal for the opening day of competition being brought forward by an hour to 1100 CEST, already at 1000 conditions were exceeding the maximum 25 knot limit for RC44 racing to take place.

This is the start of the 44th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Partnered by Rolex since 2002, the event is considered one of the world’s most beautiful and challenging offshore races. An international fleet of 110 yachts from 26 countries are contesting the 2023 race. Following today’s start from Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta, competitors will tackle the 606-nautical mile (1,122 kilometres) course which comprises an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Sicily before finishing back in Malta.

Ironic after a day blown off as severe gale force winds battered the nearby Rock of Gibraltar, day two of the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina started with barely a breath of wind. Fortunately, right on queue just before the appointed midday start time, the wind on the Bay of Gibraltar suddenly and forcefully kicked in with an offshore breeze stabilising at 13 knots from 280 degrees.

Trained at the Olympic school in the south of France, Erwan Israël boasts an eclectic career and track record, cruiser-racing, match racing, Figaro, circumnavigations of the globe, his experience is diverse and extensive! Dabbling in everything, this discreet sailor is also a formidable competitor. A fine tactician, an extraordinary trimmer and a seasoned helmsman, Erwan Israël has managed to carve out a niche for himself among the very best, both on the water and on shore. Indeed, for several years, he’s specialised in navigation and weather route-ing, to the point that he’s become one of the great experts in the domain. Since 2019, as part of Gitana Team, when he’s not at sea, racing as a crew,

Kitefoil World Series Italy reached a crescendo of drama as the top 10 men and women contested the new Medal Series format in the south of Sardinia. Ultimately the pre-event favourites, Max Maeder and Lauriane Nolot, prevailed to win gold in the men’s and women’s events, although there were plenty of twists and turns along the way.
All day long the thermal sea breeze was fighting a battle with the stronger offshore Mistral breeze, which made it very hard to set a fair race course. It also made it very difficult for the riders and their caddies to choose the right kite for the ever-changing conditions.

Days 3 and 4, the Bay of Algeciras had a complete change of complexion for the penultimate day of racing at the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina with the southerly wind initially non-existent, then slowly filling in to 8-10 knots. Going into the final race of the final day of the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina, just two points separated the top four boats and, with nine points on the table, mathematically any of the top six could still win. Added to this was the venue with a third day of racing from a third direction – the east, blowing across La Linea. Crossing the line the Ceeref team was ecstatic complete with fist pumping and high-fiving. This was the first event win for the 2017 and 2019 44Cup Champions since Oman in February.