Following a very successful season, the Esimit Sailing Team, led by iconic German skipper Jochen Schümann, is prepared to set a new milestone. The passage record from Trieste to Valletta as well as the Medot Sailing Trophy represent the new challenges for the sailing world.
100ft luxury yacht Esimit Europa 2 - Photo credit: Studio Borlenghi/G. Trombetta
New challenge open for all classes: Passage record Trieste to Valletta
Esimit Europa 2 superyacht, one of the world’s fastest yachts, will set it sails, aiming to establish the benchmark for the approximately 600 nautical miles long passage between Trieste (Italy) and Valletta (Malta) – open to all classes and recognized by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. For initiator Igor Simčič, that’s the new challenge after the record breaking season and a new big test for the crew: “Esimit Europa 2 is, like many other boats, taking part at the Barcolana and gets on it’s way to Valletta immediately after the finish to compete at the Rolex Middle Sea Race. With the initiation of this world sailing record, we want to inspire other yachts to take part in connecting the two regattas.”
Medot Sailing Trophy presented to monohulls breaking the passage record
For monohulls breaking the passage record from Trieste to Valletta, a very special trophy has been created. The Medot Sailing Trophy, named by the sparkling wine produced by Igor Simčič’s family. But not all challengers are going to be presented with this unique award: “The world sailing record has to be broken by monohulls in the time frame between the Barcolana and the Rolex Middle Sea Race”, explains Igor Simčič, founder of the Esimit Europa project.
A trophy uniting two cities, two regattas and two yacht clubs
Initiated by Esimit Europa, this new project could not have been realized without the organizational help of the “Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano” as well as the “Royal Malta Yacht Club”
“Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano with great enthusiasm joined the Esimit Europa’s proposal to organize a passage record which will connect the two regattas Barcolana and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. We have worked hard to define the technical details and even cooperated with the chief race officer of the Barcolana, Tullio Giraldi, and sports director Daniele Roba. Esimit Europa’s initiative certainly opens an opportunity for the Barcolana to collaborate with the Rolex Middle Sea Race, while also being a part of the initiative which has all the right characteristics to become a great sailing challenge. For crossing the Adriatic in the fastest time possible, the participants need to choose the best route, find the best winds and pick the best weather forecast. It is our big wish that Esimit Europa 2 is soon joined also by other boats which will be eager to take on the challenge and compete on this intriguing passage holding many possibilities from the standpoint of the navigator,” said the president of Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano Vincenzo Spina.
“The Royal Malta Yacht Club has a deep commitment to yachting and organizes a full programme of racing activities with the Rolex Middle Sea Race as one of the most important. Being on the crossroad of the Mediterranean, the club itself as well as Malta and its capital Valletta are very much open to cooperation with other nations. As the co-organizer, we are therefore warmly welcoming the Esimit Europa’s initiative to set the benchmark for the Trieste – Valletta passage record. By this we are not showing just our dedication to organization of top-level yachting events, but also promoting competitive spirit and necessity of collaboration as foundation for outstanding results. I wish Esimit Europa 2 fair winds and at the same time I encourage other sailors to take up the challenge for the Medot Sailing Trophy,” said Godwin Zammit, commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
Connecting the cities of Trieste and Valletta as well as the races Barcolana and Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Medot Sailing Trophy will be revealed during this year’s Barcolana and presented in Valletta.
