Ramble on
George David’s American Maxi Rambler takes monohull line honours in the 2019 Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Photography by Alex Turnbull
23 October 2019
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Rambler crossed the finish line of the 40th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race at 08:13:00 CEST on Tuesday, 22 October, completing the 606 nautical mile course in a time of 2 days 19 hours 43 minutes.
Rambler 88, as she is often referred to, has now taken Line Honours in the Rolex Middle Sea Race five years in a row, a feat unsurpassed in the 50-year history of the race.
The Rambler Crew included George David, Brad Butterworth, Andrea Visintini, Rodney Ardern, Will McCarthy, Dean Phipps, Stuart Wilson, Mark Newbrook, Jan Dekker, Brian Giorgio, Scott Beavis, Simon Daubney, Peter van Niekerk, Joca Signorini, Curtis Blewett, Antonio Cuervas Mons, Jerry Kirby, Anthony Nossiter.
Rambler’s victory in the race to be first home has been so comprehensive this year, that David has a fighting chance of lifting the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy for the best corrected time under IRC. As Rambler eased around the northwest corner of the course yesterday morning, everyone else was at a virtual standstill. By the time Rambler rounded Lampedusa, no other monohull had yet passed Favignana. It has been 12 years since David last won this race overall. In 2007, with the 90ft former-Rambler, David achieved a treasured treble of line honours, overall victory and the race record. Having set the bar for the remaining 97 boats racing under IRC at the 2019 race, all David can do now is sit back and wait.
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“That’s the win for line honours, but we still have competitors on the racecourse. For the overall, we have a shot at it, but we will have to wait and see,” commented the experienced David. “The closest boats are 180 miles behind us now; it all depends on the weather. Too often we have seen the wind build from behind and the smaller boats sail into us with stronger breeze.”
This year’s race was another largely light wind affair for the American crew. The need to do well in such conditions had been addressed over the winter. “Rambler is much improved since a year ago,” said David. “We have a new mast and a new keel: the boat is a tonne and a half lighter, which is a huge difference. That has improved our light wind performance substantially, if not dramatically.”
“This is a great race with great scenery and challenging conditions,” continued David. “It was tough because it was so easy to park up. It was challenging to keep it all together. We take huge satisfaction in taking line honours for the fifth consecutive time, and also protecting the record that we set in 2007.”
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Eight bells Olaf Harken
