Impressive debut for Lee Satariano’s Artie III at Aegean 600

Lee Satariano’s Artie III made an impressive debut at the Aegean 600.

Despite narrowly missing the overall ORC Trophy by just a few seconds, they still brought home considerable silverware.

After two days, 19 hours, and 58 seconds of racing, Artie III finished first in their class (IRC Two), and second in both the IRC and ORC Overall Classes, as well as second in ORC Class One.

Artie III was the first Maltese boat to compete in this 600 nautical mile race which saw the start and finish located at the ancient Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion and transits past 23 scenic islands in the Aegean Sea. 

The Meltemi winds, that vary widely from 0 to 40 knots, depending on the location on the course make the race intrinsically challenging.

Prior to their departure Satariano, who has years of offshore racing in the Mediterranean, anticipated a windy race, due to the prevailing “Meltemi” – the strong winds characteristic of the Aegean during the race period.  

The weather lived up to expectations, compelling the Artie III crew to contend with relentless conditions, which necessitated a robust watch system and required the crew to be hands-on for most of the race, pushing the HH42 to its limits.

Satariano explained that such conditions – particularly when trying to maneouver a boat in gusts of wind reaching 45 knots – immediate action is required to reduce the sail area, maintain control and more importantly avoid potential breakages. 

This year’s edition saw some of the strongest continuous winds, creating a sea of whitecaps that tested their skills to the limit.

One of the most critical moments occurred when Artie III got stuck in an area with very little wind and strong currents.

This close-to-land situation, Satariano explained, potentially cost Artie III the overall ORC Class win. Despite the costly delay, Satariano remarked in his usual good-natured manner,  that such challenges are simply part of the nature of sailing.

Nonetheless, Satariano expressed his satisfaction at the end result, remarking that the conditions experienced in the Aegean were ideal for the boat.

The crew has been undertaking regular training and this combination played a crucial role in their performance. He explained that this race provided valuable lessons for them, and handling such challenging conditions will undoubtedly benefit them in future races, particularly the forthcoming Rolex Middle Sea Race, which will see the same crew race together once again. 

Co-skipper Christian Ripard said: “This race was very challenging yet very different to the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The short legs on the second part of the race and the constant changes to the direction and speed of the wind leaves little time to breathe let alone rest, so the crew had to be fully focused all the time.”

As Artie III and her crew prepare for their return home, plans are already being made to optimise the boat, ensuring it is in peak condition for the upcoming Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Artie III’s crew for the Aegean 600 was made up of Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard (Co-skippers), Justin Busuttil, Nicky Fenech, Tim Davis, Simon De Gendt, Koen De Smedt,  Jake Satariano and Toon Van Caneghem.

“The Aegean 600 was not only about racing and pushing ourselves to the limit but also about enjoying the strong friendships we’ve built over the years with other crews,” Satariano added.

“They were very happy to lend a helping hand when we encountered some trouble just before the race.

“We also want to thank our sponsor Jeep Malta and other supporting organizations, including Elmo Insurance, Manoel Island Yacht Yard, Marina di Valletta, and RLR Yachting Malta, for making our participation in this race possible.”