The Med is not known for its high winds, but the stereotype was blown away this past weekend during the 28th Rolex Middle Sea Race, a 607-mile classic during which the fleet of 57 boats encountered 50 knots of wind and big seas. These conditions forced roughly half of the competitors to withdraw and also allowed George David’s 90-foot maxi, Rambler, skippered by Ken Read, to break Zephyrus IV’s 2000 record by more than 16 hours. Unfortunately, the race also claimed its pound of carbon fiber, as the Australian R/P 60 Loki lost her rudder and the crew was forced to abandon ship. The crew was rescued through a collaborative effort between the Italian Coast Guard Services and the Race Control. David Schmidt