In a record fleet of 122 yachts from 24 countries, Esimit Europa 2 set sails from the Grand Harbour in Valletta towards Sicily in a light breeze, just after midday today, in the 35th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The 608-mile course will take the participating yachts on one of the most scenic but challenging courses - around Sicily, towards the Strait of Messina, rounding the active volcano Stromboli, the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, with the finish in Malta’s capital Valletta.
During the record attempt between Trieste and Valletta for the Medot Sailing Trophy, that started on October 13 at 12:13:25 pm, the Esimit Europa 2 faced technical issues that prevented it from concluding the challenge. On October 15 at approximately 01:45 am, when the yacht was just north of Brindisi, the crew noticed an irregularity in one of the spreaders. The Esimit Sailing Team could not continue sailing and was forced to use the engine. Therefore they had to abandon the record attempt.
At 12:13:25 today, the Esimit Sailing Team set sails from Trieste towards Valleta in a light breeze of about 5 knots of speed from the northwest. They will try to establish the record for the passage between the two cities for the Medot Sailing Trophy.
“What a race!” was the most common remark among the thousands of spectators at the dock side of Trieste, after a dramatic finish of the 46th edition of the Barcolana regatta, as Esimit Europa 2 crossed the finish line first, struggling in conditions of calm and very light breeze up to only 2 knots of speed.
Today, at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb, the founder of the Esimit Europa project, Igor Simčič, met with the Croatian President, Ivo Josipović, who expressed his official support for the Esimit Europa project, due to the continuous process of strengthening the dialogue between the people of Europe, to which the project is dedicated.
The Esimit Europa 2 raced for the Bernetti Cup on a 15-nautical mile long course in the Gulf of Trieste today. After only 52 minutes and 3 seconds of sailing, the European-flagged maxi yacht crossed the finish line as the first in the fleet, thus reaching its 33rd consecutive line honours victory.
The reception, held by the City of Rijeka and the Esimit Europa project on this occasion, took place at the Maritime and History Museum in Rijeka. Vojko Obersnel, mayor of the City of Rijeka, and Igor Simčič, founder of the Esimit Europa project, welcomed the guests representing the diplomacy and business world of Slovenia and Croatia, who attended the reception. The mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel also sailed on board the Esimit Europa 2 before the reception.
At 1:18:57 am CEST Esimit Europa 2 achieved another line honours victory after 37 hours 18 minutes and 57 seconds of sailing among thousand islands and almost that many different winds in the second leg of Thousand Islands Race from Tivat in Montenegro back to Rijeka in Croatia, where this amazing scenic race started a week ago.
By crossing the finish lines first at both legs of the race, Esimit Europa 2 remained unbeaten on the water and achieved its 32nd consecutive line honours victory.
Today at noon Esimit Europa 2 crossed the starting line towards Rijeka in the second leg of the Thousand islands race, which is connecting the two ports in two countries - the historic port of Rijeka in Croatia and Porto Montenegro in beautiful Boka Kotorska Bay in Montenegro.
Just before the prize-giving for the first leg of the Thousand Islands Race in Porto Montenegro, the project Esimit Europa was presented to the journalists and the interested public in Montenegro, since it is the premiere participation of the fastest European yacht Esimit Europa 2 in Montenegro.
