The weather for the first edition of the Rolex Volcano Race is proving to be as spectacular as the stunning scenery. By mid-afternoon on the second day of the Rolex Volcano Race, the majority of the Maxi and Mini Maxi fleet had passed Capri, bound for the volcanic island of Stromboli. Earlier in the day, light winds halted their progress, the instability of wind direction also resulted in no racing today, on the first day of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week inshore regatta.
During the calm conditions of the early afternoon, Frenchman Gerard Logel, owner of Swan 601, aRobas, took the opportunity to comment from on board.
“We always try our best and at the moment we are very happy with our performance. We have split the crew into two teams and each is concentrating extremely hard to keep up our speed but we are relaxed and enjoying sailing in beautiful sunshine. At the moment we can see DSK about three miles in front of us and quite a few spinnakers behind. Besides watching the fleet, we have also been visited by many dolphins, which are curious about what we are doing, my answer is – aRobas is having a fantastic time!”
By mid-afternoon conditions had changed, a solid sea breeze kicked in south of Capri. Race leader Alegre took full advantage. Hoisting a massive hi-tech code zero, the Mini-Maxi literally took off, defying the law of gravity, surfing at over 17 knots. Alegre now have a commanding lead on the water.
Danilo Salsi’s DSK Pioneer Investments enjoyed the fresh breeze. However, the heavier displacement Swan 90 could not match Alegre’s electric pace, but the spirit on Danilo Salsi’s Swan 90 never diminishes, as world-class navigator Francesco Mongelli explained by satellite phone.
“We always like to have fun when we sail, even when the wind is as unstable as it has been. Today we have seen wind speeds of up to 14 knots and as little as just three but we have kept going. Being an Italian boat, we have good food to gives us comfort, we celebrated passing Capri with some excellent Caprese paninis and tonight we will have pasta with ragout. Danilo Salsi is a great leader, he helms on both watches and is a great motivator, we hope to make good speed but it is difficult with the change in the wind.”
Turbulent times may lie ahead of the fleet, the centre of a low-pressure system close to Stromboli is causing very unstable conditions. A small thunderstorm generating 40 knots of wind was observed at Europe’s second largest volcano this afternoon. But there may be no wind at all at the centre of the low, when the competitors in the Rolex Volcano Race arrive there tomorrow.
aRobas leads a peloton of boats chasing the leaders, including Alessandro Rombelli’s Baltic 65, Stig, which pulled off a well-executed passing manoeuvre through the strait, east of Capri. Hungarian Mini-maxi Wild Joe and Italian Wally 65, Edimentra are still very much in contention in this chasing pack. Marton Jozsa, skipper of Wild Joe, was enjoying the race immensely, as he explains. “ All of the crew is Hungarian, except for Australian Bret Perry. I have competed in quite a lot of offshore races but most of the crew usually sail Olympic Classes. Wild Joe has a full programme of racing this year and we hope to do well in the Rolex Volcano Race, the lighter winds suit are boat and I think that we have a chance of doing well.”
Tonight, the international fleet competing in the Rolex Volcano Race will be making good speed towards Stromboli. Of all the magnificent vistas in the Rolex Volcano Race, Stromboli is the most mesmeric due to its unending explosive activity. Nicknamed the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean, Stromboli was born over 100,000 years ago and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, especially noted for its spectacular incandescent explosions. Stromboli towers nearly 900 metres above the Tyrrhenian Sea and the colossal base lays a thousand metres below. As the fleet in the Rolex Volcano Race head for this awe-inspiring corner of the Mediterranean, several thunderstorms are in evidence across the Southern Apennine Mountains and Sicily. Tomorrow may well be a baptism of fire for the fleet in this fascinating race.
