Giovanni Di Vincenzo’s Italian Ker 46 Lisa R won the Yachting Malta Coastal Race after IRC time correction by just 53 seconds, in superb conditions two days before the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Francois Bopp’s Swiss Farr 52 Chocolate 3 was second overall and won IRC 2, a mere five seconds ahead of the American entry Warrior Won. Chris Sheehan’s PAC52 Warrior Won took line honours, completing the 29-mile course in 3 hours 24 minutes 41 seconds. Two Maltese boats won their classes: Jonathan Gambin’s Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla (IRC 5) and Andrew Agius Delicata’s Reflex 38 Vivace (IRC 6). Valentin Oeru’s Romanian Swan 42 Lion’s Story won IRC 4.
“We really wanted to have good racing ahead of the long race. In fact, we organised the crew into three-watch systems, even though this race was short,” said Lisa R skipper Francesco Bertone. “We had a good downwind leg to Comino, but made a small mistake on the way back. That was enough for the competition to close in and create such a tight finish. Maybe we were a bit lucky to hold on to the win by just a few seconds, but sometimes you need that bit of fortune to succeed.”
“An exceptional practice for the big race to come,” said Warrior Won’s tactician Richard Clarke. “We got to do a harbour start which sort of mirrors the start in the Grand Harbour. After that we had a big transition in the wind on the way to Comino, so we had to deal with an 80 degree shift.”
