Commanche Raider, an old Admiral's Cup racer from the IOR periods of the 1980s, was severely damaged following the adverse weather conditions encountered during last year's Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Skipper Jonas Diamantino decided that a new yacht was necessary for the upcoming Middle Sea Race and is now the proud owner of an ILC 40, rechristened by Diamantino as Commanche Raider II and, once again, sponsored by GasanMamo Insurance.
The boat, previously the Pinta, was designed and built in 1997 and owned by Pedro Campos, the Spanish Olympic sailing champion.
Pinta enjoyed great success along the years, clinching many top prizes in the European sailing circuit.
In 2005, Pinta was sold to a Spanish consortium, only to be bought by Diamantino last April. The boat is an ILC 40, the predecessor of the Farr 40 - one of today's hottest and competitively-raced classes around the world.
Last year, Commanche Raider was the third and final Maltese boat to complete the 697-nautical mile course. It was Diamantino's sixth Middle Sea Race.
"It was a one-time experience," Diamantino recalled. "There were moments when I feared for the lives of the crew, the boat and, of course, myself.
"While the winds were expected to be strong, the northeasterly that hit us on Saturday night was far stronger than forecast.
"I love racing but I wouldn't want to be in those conditions on a regular basis or intentionally. There were some situations that really put the fear of God into the sailors who are not usually easily knocked off their stride.
"I'd never seen conditions like those. The swell was immense and when the squall came through, the sea went completely white around us, completely white.
"Then the hail hit us first and then the wind visibility would go from several miles to less than 50 metres in seconds... terrifying."
"At one point, the fore-hatch blew off its hinges. In atrocious conditions, the hatch was secured back in place. Not before a few hundred litres of water had been taken on though," he continued.
For Diamantino, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a challenge.
"Preparing the boat, selecting the crew and embarking on a 697-nautical mile voyage are all part of the fun," he said.
Whatever the result, he believes he is a winner just by completing the course.
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