Check out this rainspout seen from a helicopter off Stromboli yesterday by Carlo Borlenghi while photographing the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

The fleet has been having another scouring in heavy weather. It’s been Fastnet Race Redux,with 22 of the 77 yachts racing electing to take shelter while race leader Rambler, skippered by Ken Read, aims for a course record.

The photos below, again courtesy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi, show Cippa Lippa (a Cookson 50) and Rubino (a Judel/Vrolijk-designed 66ft performance cruiser) battling it out near Stromboli.