Zephyrus IV smashes Middle Sea Race record
by Royal Malta Yacht Club 24 Oct 2000 08:17 BST
"Zephyrus IV" Smashes Middle Sea Race Course Record by 8 Hours
Riviera di Rimini's Course record established two years ago has just been smashed by Robert Mc Neil's Maxi Turbo Sled "Zephyrus IV". She managed to wipe off 8 hours from the previous record to cross the finish line after 64hrs, 49mins and 57seconds at sea to establish the new course record for the Middle Sea Race at an average speed of 9.44 knots.
"The crew on board Zephyrus IV were great. The Middle Sea Race course is really impressive and the boat and sailing conditions, well, simply amazing. We had a great day on Sunday when we sailed from Stromboli to Faviniana. We set our largest asymmetrical and sailed at an average speed of 17 knots for the whole day." Robert McNeil said. The hardest part of the Middle Sea Race was our return leg from Lampedusa to Malta. "As soon as we went round the Island of Lampedusa, we encountered winds in excess of 35 knots and waves of some eight metres in height. I was expecting the rig to collapse at any time. This must be the fourth mast we have installed on "Zephyrus IV" and I didn't feel like having to buy a new one again.
John Bertrand also had words of praise for his crew. "This must be one of the best races I have ever sailed. The crew did everything that was expected from them, and more. We did however, have a scary moment on our last leg from Lampedusa to Malta. A massive wave nearly swept a crewmember overboard. Thankfully, he was holding on to the main sheet for his life and we managed to get him back on board, safe and sound."
Speaking to journalists on the pontoon in the early hours of the morning, Lorenzo Bortollotti said that the new course record could be quite difficult to beat. "Zephyrus IV" is an amazing boat and the crew really worked hard". Lorenzo was on "Sagamore" for last years Middle Sea Race as a tactician and has again been engaged by Jim Dolan for next years' event, confirming that the blue American Maxi would return in 2001.
"With the Cape Town to Rio Course record and now the Middle Sea Race Course Record, I think I can say that we had a great year." "We shall do our utmost to be back next year to defend this title." Robert Mc Neil said.
"Zephyrus IV" is a Turbo Sled Maxi from the drawing boards of Reichel-Pugh Design.
NEW COURSE RECORD ?
Zephyrus IV, with owner Robert McNeil on board, who is assisted by Lorenzo Bortolotti and John Bertrand, is set to break Riviera di Rimini's course record established two years ago by an astounding margin.
The Maxi Turbo-Sled design, from the drawing boards of Reichel-Pugh should literally smash the current course record by quite a few hours. She is expected to arrive in Maltese waters some time before midnight. If she does, she would wipe out the current record by at least twelve hours. This would make next year's event a serious challenge to any other Maxi or Italian Open Class Boat to come and establish another new course record.
At 6pm on Saturday evening, Juno, Lady Blues, Providence and Lady Blues are all bundled up together just off the Levanzo lighthouse together with the local boats Allegra, skippered by Alfred Manduca and Medex-Powered by Red Bull. However, these leading boats do not have the same wind as the
American Maxi. They have been stuck in the Faviniana area for the past twenty hours with a heavy swell and headwind.
Contact was also made with Winston Azzopardi on board Latina. This Beneteau 42s7 is just off Palermo and about 30 nautical miles away from the leading boats.
Anton Valentino on board First Ever has closed up on Latina is only 1 mile behind her. The other Italian family cruiser, Hakuna Matata has also made a fantastic comeback. She is now just abeam of First Ever and two miles behind Latina.
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