Rome for All: Kuka 3 leading in Ventotene, Splinter in the wake

The 2021 edition of the Rome for All for Two is proving to be very tough, with weather that does not seem to be kind to the fleet. Upwind, lots of upwind with a formed wave, since yesterday this is the menu the boats are facing but the weather spite doesn’t seem to be over, quite the contrary.

Leading the dance in real time, in the Per Tutti, as expected is Franco Nieggeler’s Cookson 50 Kuka 3, which has now passed the Ventotene gate and continues to tack south. These are the updates received by the crew overnight:

“Nice start by Franco from Riva di Traiano with 20+ knots and formed wave, the wind so far has only given up a few knots and we are still with J3 as we approach Anzio. morale is high and we are all glad to be back at sea…2.20 am wind dropped to 10 knots, but also warmer sea with long wave almost to the transverse on the starboard tack. Kuka 3 runs fast toward the Ventotene gate now in front of us on this moonless night after a couple of roars in front of Circeo. Shifts are steady, morale high and hot tea helps on this first night at sea.” We thank Lamberto Cesari, who from aboard Kuka 3 updates us on what is happening at the head of the race.

Chasing Kuka is Nino Merola’s Swan 42 Scheggia, author of an excellent race so far and clearly in the running for the handicap ranking. More detached are the trio consisting of the Comet 45 Libertine, the Swan 48 Mia, both in the Per Due category, and the X-442 Muzyka 2, which are beginning to lose ground to the two leading boats.

We were saying about the whims of the wind. Gradually the sirocco of these hours will be waning, and it will be important to sail far enough east to stay in the downward flow and make approach toward the Lipari gate. In the Aeolian Islands, which the first ones are expected to approach at dawn tomorrow, the wind will be very light and anticipate turning to mistral. The northwest will come in quite intense, even over 30 knots, and the upwind climb is expected to be decidedly tough for the entire fleet and not just the frontrunners.

TRACKING HERE.