Tomorrow, Saturday 18 October at 1100 CEST, the cannons of the Saluting Battery will once again echo across Valletta’s Grand Harbour, marking the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the most striking events in the international offshore sailing calendar. With 118 yachts from 30 nations, the race, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, celebrates its 46th edition, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s most demanding and captivating regattas.
Covering 606 nautical miles, the Rolex Middle Sea Race traces an anti-clockwise course around Sicily, starting and finishing in Malta. It combines the splendour of the Mediterranean with the challenge of unpredictable weather, testing even the most seasoned sailors. From the historic harbour of Valletta, crews set out on a course of breathtaking contrasts, through the Strait of Messina, past the volcanic glow of Stromboli, along the rugged coasts of the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, and around the distant outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, closer to Africa than to Europe. Every leg presents its own battle, with shifting currents, sudden squalls, and the ever-changing moods of the sea.
The race’s history is deeply tied to that of the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC), whose origins date back to the 1830s, making it one of the oldest yacht clubs in the Mediterranean. The event was conceived in 1968 from the friendship and sporting rivalry between two British yachtsmen, Alan Green and Jimmy White, and two Maltese sailors, Paul and John Ripard, all members of the RMYC. What began as a friendly challenge evolved into one of the world’s premier offshore races. Since 2002, Rolex has served as title sponsor, strengthening the race’s reputation for precision, heritage, and excellence.
This year’s line-up brings together an impressive international fleet. Australia’s Black Jack 100, winner of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, headlines the list of contenders, joined by the Botín 56 Black Pearl, overall winner in 2024 as Red Bandit, the legendary Stormvogel from the inaugural 1968 race, and local heroes Elusive 2, champions in 2019 and 2020. To compete here is to test endurance, strategy, and seamanship on one of the most revered stages in offshore sailing.
Among the Maltese entries, Artie III, co-skippered by Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, stands as one of the island’s most decorated campaigns. Ripard’s 35th participation equals the record of the late Arthur Podestà, another icon of Maltese sailing. Otra Vez, owned by Aaron Gatt Floridia, also returns with renewed determination, while the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation continues to nurture new generations of Maltese offshore sailors, combining youthful ambition with the nation’s deep maritime tradition.
Friday’s Skippers’ and Weather Briefing revealed moderate south-easterly winds expected at the start and potential stronger gusts developing through the Strait of Sicily during the first night, promising a tactical and eventful race ahead.
Earlier this week, the Yachting Malta Coastal Race, a 26-nautical mile warm-up event, set the tone. Australian entry Whisper claimed overall victory after a day of shifting conditions, with light breezes giving way to heavy squalls near the finish, a fitting prelude to what awaits the fleet in the main event.
Every October, Malta’s Grand Harbour transforms into the stage for a spectacle that transcends sport. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is not merely a contest of speed, but a celebration of Malta’s enduring bond with the sea, a union of tradition, resilience, and pride.
The 2025 edition will conclude on Friday, 25 October, with the official Prize Giving Ceremony at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, honouring winners across all divisions and closing a week that unites the global sailing community under Malta’s iconic skyline.
When the cannons fire tomorrow morning and sails rise against the golden bastions of Valletta, the Mediterranean’s heartbeat will once again belong to the sea, and to the sailors who chase its horizon.
The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race will be broadcast live from 10:30 CEST on the official Rolex Middle Sea Race YouTube channel, with expert English commentary supported by Yachting Malta.
