Aaron Podesta and his siblings Maya and Christoph are continuing their family’s proud tradition, one started by their father, who raced in every edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race until his passing in 2015. The Podestas’ boat, Elusive II, claimed back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020, and remains a strong contender. Aaron reflects on the dedication required, saying that preparing the boat to the highest standard is critical for both safety and performance.
Keeping the race at the forefront of their minds throughout the year, they regularly brainstorm improvements, even during family gatherings. However, Aaron admits, the challenge often lies in finding the time to put these ideas into action. The passionate and dedicated core team has been key to their continued success. Aaron stressed about “the importance of enjoying the process and giving it their all. Maintaining the boat to the highest standard year-round, for both performance and safety, is a critical part of their preparation”. Their primary and realistic goal is always to achieve a strong result in their highly competitive class, one of the largest in the Race. The Podestas know that many variables need to align in a race like the Rolex Middle Sea Race. For the Podestas, whilst completing the race is an achievement, a strong class result is always their primary goal.
