The 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race will have a fleet of 118 yachts on the starting line on Saturday, October 18.
The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania.
It is an outstanding, wide-ranging and highly competitive fleet.
The entry list could still grow as the RMYC has reserved the right to accept late entries up to next Friday.
The core details are: 113 monohulls, the largest of which is Black Jack 100, at 30.48 metres (100 feet) in length overall; the smallest yacht is Calypso at 9.43m (31ft).
There are five multihulls: Allegra, the 25.49m (84ft) Nigel Irens design is the largest; the smallest is the foiling Falcon at 14.2m (46.5ft), which Jimmy Spithill famously sailed from New York to Bermuda and is now raced in the Mediterranean by Matteo Uliassi.
The oldest entry is Stormvogel, launched in 1961, which took line honours at the RMSR in 1968 and 1969.
Mowgli of Portsmouth, launched in 1965, also deserves a shout.
Italy has submitted a remarkable 23 entries, with France and Malta each submitting 17.
The monohull fleet will be racing under IRC Time Correction for the Rolex Middle Sea Race trophy, awarded to the overall winner of the race.
“The Royal Malta Yacht Club is truly delighted to welcome such a diverse and talented fleet to this year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race,” said Commodore Mark Napier.
“This October promises an extraordinary international gathering, ready to take on one of the world’s most captivating race courses.
“ We look forward to extending our renowned Maltese hospitality, and, together with our partners, creating an unforgettable experience for every crew.”
Plenty of crews will have their eye on the main trophy, not least those that have won it before.
The most recent past winner is the crew of Red Bandit, which claimed overall victory last year.
The young German team is back, but without its TP52, which lost its rig during this summer’s Admiral’s Cup. Instead, the crew will be racing the Botin 56 Black Pearl, generously made available by the owner.
“It’s our favourite race. Sailing past volcanoes, the beauty of the landscape, the level of competition – it reminds you why you love sailing,” said Moriz Forster, while paying tribute to Black Pearl’s owner Stefan Jentzch,
Other past winners include Géry Trentesaux, a winner in 2018 with Courrier Recommandé, who returns with his current yacht, the Sydney 43 Long Courrier.
The Maltese Podesta siblings, Aaron, Christoph and Maya Podesta, racing Elusive II, were consecutive winners in 2019 and 2020 – the first since Nita’s three-peat in 1978,79 and 80.
Lee Satariano, with co-skipper Christian Ripard, racing the HH42 Artie III secured victory on two occasions in 2011 and 2014 with his previous yacht, a J/121.
Ripard has won the race in his own right as skipper of the J/105 Bigfoot in 1996, and the J/125 Strait Dealer in 2001.
This year, Ripard will reach 35 races, matching the record set by another local hero, Arthur Podesta, who sadly passed away in 2015.
Among the expected front runners is Black Jack 100 which is a proven line honours winner under both current and former guise.
Previously finishing first on elapsed time at the Rolex Middle Sea Race as Alfa Romeo 2 in 2006, and then as Esimit Europa 2 between 2010 and 2014.
Last year the Black Jack team was narrowly beaten by SHK Scallywag, a low point that new owner, Remon Vos, and his skipper, Tristan Le Brun, put right at this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, when the result was reversed.
“Why return to the Rolex Middle Sea Race?” ponders Le Brun. “We love this race. Last year we were very disappointed, pictures of me at the helm crossing the finish line say it all, but we come back because we love the race.”
With no other 100 foot maxis, the pressure is arguably off in the race to be first monohull to finish. There is the course record though.
“Records are there to be broken and we like that challenge,” adds Le Brun. “The Comanche record is difficult to beat; they had such perfect conditions. It’s hard to have that all the way on such a long course. I would say unlikely but never say never.”
Another yacht expecting to be fast is the multihull Allegra, which over the years has won the MOCRA class at many of the world’s great offshore races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2021 and 2023, and RORC Caribbean 600 in 2020, as well as the Aegean 600 in 2022 and 2025.
Entered by Adrian Keller from Switzerland, the performance cruising catamaran is a force to be reckoned with, despite its first attempt at the course ending early.
“This will be Allegra’s second Rolex Middle Sea Race,” explains skipper Rob Grimm.
“We previously entered in 2018, but had to retire before passing through the Strait of Messina.”
The team includes Paul Larsen (the outright world speed sailing record holder, setting a 500m run at an average of 65.45 knots in 2012), Tom Dawson (2025 Admiral’s Cup winner as co-skipper of Jolt), Scott Gray (two round the world races under his belt), and Helena Darvelid, (who set the 24 hour sailing record in 2002 on Maiden II and who has sailed with Allegra since she was launched).
The professional end of the sport is clearly well-represented with the likes of Balthasar, the 21.85m Mills-designed Maxi 72, which counts another highly-regarded round-the-world sailor, Bouwe Bekking, within the crew, and which finished first in IRC 1 in 2024.
Skipper Rogier van Overveld said: “The Rolex Middle Sea Race is always on our list as Louis really enjoys offshore racing. This is one of the best, and our end-of-the-season race.
“It’s a beautiful course, sometimes with light winds, but also very challenging weather. And let’s not forget the hospitality of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and all the people involved.”
Local challenge
The local Maltese fleet is putting out an impressive contingent. In addition to those mentioned already, there are the two youth crews on Jarhead and JYS Jan entered by the Jarhead Foundation, which has opened the world of offshore sailing to so many young aspirants over the years.
Elsewhere, the Beneteau First 45f5 Noah Dimm Racing Team, which made its debut in 2024, returns under the leadership of Kevin Pisani Zammit.
“We’re thrilled to be returning,” said Zammit.
“Last year’s race pushed us to our limits and brought out the best in us as a team, testing our resilience, skill and unity. Competing again means building on that experience, learning more, and pushing even further.
“I’m looking forward to the thrill of the challenge, the unpredictable conditions, and that unmatched feeling of crossing the finish line together.”
Far from a newcomer to either the race or offshore sailing, Nikki Henderson, the youngest ever skipper to lead a Clipper Round the World Race team, is skippering the J/122 Noisy Oyster and is another enthusiastic about opening up the joys of sailing out of sight of land both day and night.
In 2019, Henderson led an all-women youth crew in the Rolex Middle Sea Race and subsequently skippered Yagiza to second in IRC 4 in 2024.
This year she has brought together an international crew of sailors with mixed abilities and skill.
“My experience with JYS Jan in 2019 was that a well-trained amateur crew of teenagers could give pro crews a proper run. That is such a good message for sailing. In what other sport can you line up against the very best?” said Henderson.
“Offshore sailing is the most intense sailing experience you can have. You get a bit of everything: the attention to detail, process-driven inshore-type racing skills, the need for real leadership, the rhythm of life onboard and the platform to build relationships.
In my view, it is the fastest way to learn these valuable lessons.”
These are only a few of the highlights of a remarkable international fleet that carries countless more stories. With plenty of unexpected moments sure to unfold once the race begins, there is much to look forward to.
Author
