'Elusive St Regis' enters 32nd Rolex Middle Sea Race event

Organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the 32nd running of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is featuring more than 80 boats from all over the world to compete in a 606 nautical mile challenge.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) said the Middle Sea Race was “the most beautiful race course in the world”.

The participants started on 22 October in the Grand Harbour and headed on a course around Sicily to return to the finishing line based in the Grand Harbour on 29 October.

Prima Global Consultants (PGC) will be partnering with St Regis Hotels and Resorts to participate in the 2011 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race with Elusive St Regis, a Benetau First 45. This will be the first race for ‘Elusive II’, named Elusive St Regis for the occasion.

Arthur Podesta, skipper of the Elusive St Regis, competed for the 32nd time vying for top honours and is the only participant to have competed in every race held since the first in 1968. He has been part of the winning boat twice, the ‘Tikka’ in 1970 and the ‘Saudade’ in 1983.

Podesta said that participants were keen yachtsman, highly committed, fiercely competitive with a deep knowledge and love of sailing.

On why he never missed a race, Podesta said that his appetite had not been dulled and still feels excitement in anticipation of a race. He added that having his three children on his core crew has increased his source of satisfaction when participating. Andrew Bernard will be a new crewmember introduced by Podesta.

Podesta also said that competitive sailing has made an essential contribution to his well-being and “one gets old when one stops sailing”.

PGC, launched in 1994, is a boutique consultancy specialising in corporate strategy, marketing communications, creative services and business development.

This year’s race event will mark a moment of growth for St Regis with a total of 10 new and restored hotels and resorts being unveiled in the next six months which is the most that has been opened in single year since The St Regis New York was founded in 1904.

“At St Regis, we share our sophisticated guests’ passion for speed and sport, and are proud to associate ourselves with Arthur Podesta and his crew who demonstrate an uncompromising passion for the sport of sailing,” Vice President of Luxury and Design Brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Anthony Ingham said.