Have a look at the Heartbeat IV video of the Rolex Middle Sea Race at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQW1zRlvBAI. Note also the cruise liner in the background in Grand Harbour, Valletta – Costa Concordia.

Intrepid team of Trevor, Ian, Paul and Bob set off mid-afternoon of 28th January from Valletta in the first stage of the return to the East Coast.  Arrived in Cartagena yesterday (~ 900 miles) – one day of 220 miles.  Intend to be in Gibraltar at Ocean Marina by Sunday 5th.  HBIV is trackable on AIS at www.marinetraffic.com (Heartbeat IV).  Any volunteers for next stage let us know!

So far only in draft form – however HBIV will be returning from Valletta to Burnham over the next couple of months to do some EAORA and RORC races and then will return to Malta for the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October. From there will go to Las Palmas for the ARC 2012, for which she is entered in Racing Division 2.  It is then anticipated she will do the Caribbean 600 in 2013.  Her schedule is on the Heartbeatoffshore Google Group. If you sail with HBIV please update all your contact details and intended availability.  Happy New Year 2012.

Heartbeat IV is currently wintering in M’Sida Marina in Valletta.  Detailed plans for 2012 not yet decided.  Heartbeat IV is however entered for the ARC 2012 in Division II Racing (see http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/features.aspx).

Well we did it.  Best long offshore race that we can all remember. Fantastic organisation, hospitality and friendship from the Royal Malta Yacht Club team (especially Georges, Alex and Alana) and the Rolex support group.  Very few of the Heartbeat team can remember a previous race with an erupting volcano as a mark of the course.  Results could have been better but we were in top 20 for first 510 miles until virtually becalmed for a day after Lampedusa.  See quick flash of HBIv at 1m 26s on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sfsqhD7sU0.  Also see the break up of the Royal Malta YC pontoon the previous week – which they’d fixed by race start here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMyq1sMkx3A&feature=related.  Heartbeat IV still images are viewable at http://jjpaynejames.smugmug.com/Boats/Rolex-Middle-Sea-Race-2011/19806215_C8vcpN#1556709571_shBKZQ5.  The fantastic team were – Jason, Judy and Grace Payne-James, Roger Temple. Nicola Paterson, Ashley Foxhall, Ian Magee, Russell and Karen Walker, Dani Southey, Trevor Bassett and Marcus Bonomini. Grace won the Youth Cup as the youngest person to complete the course.   What a great few days.  Thanks to all who helped get it all together.

0645h - The Finish

Marcus

Ian

Grace

Nic

Dani

Karen

Trevor

Ash

Le Fin

Roger

Jude

Heartbeat IV team entering Straits of Messina

In Straits of Messina – 8.5 knots – beautiful sun – chasing Yellowdrama  and Doppelbock after busy first 24 hours.  Wet and little wind overnight – start very busy – two other D45s on start line next to us Doppelbock (GBR) and Comrade (RUS).   Asyy and S2 up in Valletta Grand Harbour – handbrake turn to St Julian’s – first spinnaker blow-out (not ours) in 40 minutes – we had all sails bar #4, trysail and storm jib up within 5 hours.  Now settled in to rhythym -sail changes ++.  Hope to be round Strombolicchio later tonight…. a few pics below

Yellowdrama in Straits of MessinaAsh, Dani and Grace

Italy