Still in Malta, with the last few details to sort out and our minds full of wind and sea. For Leonardo Servi and Franco “Ciccio” Manzoli aboard the Comet 38 Scricca, the Middle Sea Race comes to an end in whirlwind of emotions. Crossing that finish line beneath the bastions is a thrill that’s hard to put into words, one of those moments that makes you forget the fatigue and already dream of the next start. The boat responded beautifully, the result of meticulous preparation and new sails that did their job superbly. Sure, a few slip-ups in the choices, that’s racing, but the crew never gave up, not even when morale was sinking below the waterline. That’s the magic of the Middle: a long, unpredictable course that can punish you with fifty miles of loss and then gift you the comeback of a lifetime thanks to a patch of calm or a saving puff of wind. It teaches you that no mistake is ever final, as long as you keep believing. The charm of the route among the islands, the Strait of Messina with its currents, the nights at the helm, and those breathtaking passages, it’s a Mediterranean spectacle that stays with you, in your eyes and in your heart. Now it’s time for handshakes and applause for those who reached the podium. But already, between laughter and stories, someone is dreaming of the next edition. Because the Middle, once it gets to you, never lets you go.
