The bulk of the Rolex Middle Sea Race fleet is situated in Grand Harbour, the waterfront area of Valletta, specifically in Galley Creek, the body of water that lies between Fort Saint Angelo and Fort Saint Michael.
Piero Paniccia, skipper and owner of the canting-keeled Cookson 50, Calipso IV (ITA) is back for his 2nd Rolex Middle Sea Race. For Paniccia, it's worth the 600-nautical mile delivery from his homeport of Civitinova Marche, Italy, on the Adriatic, to get here.
Tending to some last details onboard he said, "We are very happy to be here because this is the most important race in the Mediterranean.
"The forecast that we have for Saturday's start is for wind from the southeast - the sirocco - so the first leg should be a fast delivery to Messina. For us it's a good forecast because the boat will be fast in those conditions. I think the crew is okay and we have the opportunity to do a good result."
Edward Broadway on the Farr 40, Hooligan VI (GBR) is another returnee. Broadway said, "It's a very special event, this one. Last year we were surprised with the speed changes. We understand weather in Northern Europe, which is understandable because of fronts coming, but here we were not very good in reading the weather signs. We will be better this year."
Friday is another lay-day before the Rolex Middle Sea Race start at 11.00am on Saturday, 23 October 2010.