While they finished 160 nautical miles in front of the next boat, the team were well behind their own record time set in 2007 when they took both line honours and IRC of 1 day 13 hours 55 minutes and 3 seconds.
Live line honours finish – Rambler 88
Nic Douglass, the Sailor Girl was live at the finish thanks to the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
With George David – Rambler 88 owner and skipper
While it definitely wasn’t a record breaking year, line honours may not be the only trophy that the Rambler 88 team take home, as they currently also sit on top of the IRC leaderboard.
Nic Douglass caught up with George David dockside to congratulate the team, and to chat about the race this year, the modifications they have made to the boat, past races, and what is next for the team.
Line Honours presentation on the dock
Congratulations to the Rambler 88 team including the owner and skipper George David, the navigator Brad Butterworth, Andrea Visintini, Rodney Ardern, Will McCarthy, Dean Phipps, Stuart Wilson, Mark Newbrook, Jan Dekker, Brian Giorgio, Scott Beavis, Simon Daubney, Peter van Niekerk, Joca Signorini, Curtis Blewett, Antonio Cuervas Mons, Jerry Kirby, and Anthony “Nocka” Nossiter.
Georges Bonello Du Puis presented George David and his team with their line honours flag and some well-earned beverages this morning, you can watch live below.
The Rambler 88 team will shortly be presented with their Rolex at the Royal Malta Yacht Club for their line honours win, and we will all have to wait to see whether they can take out the double, or whether one of the smaller boats can finish with speed to swoop in and take the IRC prize.
For more from the Rolex Middle Sea Race head to www.rolexmiddlesearace.com or @rolexmiddlesearace or find my adventures at www.sailorgirlhq.com or on Twitter, Instagramor Facebook.