The 45th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, begins on Saturday, 19 October 2024, bringing 110 yachts from 29 countries to Malta. The exciting 606-nautical-mile race goes from Malta to Sicily and back gets underway in Valletta’s majestic Grand Harbour and has grown from modest beginnings in 1968 into a splendorous international yachting event.
The Rolex Middle Sea Race can take between four and six days for most boats, but the fastest boats can finish in under 48 hours
Rolex Middle Sea Race
Malta’s geo-marine central Mediterranean position has, through the centuries, attracted invaders and militaries eager to claim administrative power over the islands. But since its independence in 1964, this began to gradually modify. Today, although still strategically important, the islands of Malta and Gozo have become a coveted mooring destination for family and local boating activity as well as spectacular annual international yacht races, like the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
This Mediterranean offshore classic is an iconic 600-mile offshore races, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race. Steeped in history, the race takes sailors counter-clockwise from Malta and around the island of Siciily. Featuring two active volcanoes, a host of other islands, and the start and a starting point in Malta’s magnificent Grand Harbour, the course is as thrilling as it is picturesque.
The current record for the completing the race stands at 47 hours, 55 minutes and 35 seconds, set in 2007.
A Sailing Competition’s Modest Beginnings
The original race sprung to life thanks to a friendly rivalry between British Royal Ocean Racing Club members and the Royal Malta Yacht Club in 1968. British yachtsmen Alan Green and Jimmy White and their Maltese sailing brethren Paul and John Ripard. Alan (who would go on and become Secretary of the Royal Ocean Racing Club) suggested an exciting sailing race between Malta and Sicily, alternating the starting point of the race each year between the two islands.
However, Paul Ripard insisted that Malta be at the centre of the race and the course was set. Thus the 606-nautical-mile race starts and finishes in Malta and takes the fleet counter-clockwise around the island of Sicily, including Lampedusa, Pantelleria, Egadi, and the Aeolian Islands.
The inaugural edition attracted a limited number of entrants from Britain, Malta and Holland, with the Italian navy entering its training yacht, “Stella Polare”. In total, there were less than ten yachts. First past the finish line was the yacht “Stormvogel”, helmed by the Dutchman Cornelius “Kees” Bruynzeel, with John Ripard the overall winner in the small yacht, “Josian”.
The awards ceremony was a black-tie affair, with island celebrities in attendance, including the then Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop, and Malta’s yachting fraternity. The Guest of Honour was Sir Francis Chichester, who was fresh off the heels of his single-handed round-the-world voyage of 1966–1967.
The race and his presence undoubtedly put Malta on the yachting map and over the following decade, it grew with in reputation and appeal to world-class sailors. In 2001 a revitalized Race Committee targeted a more aggressive marketing strategy, determined to find the backing of an international sponsor.
Rolex Comes Aboard
Rolex SA came on board as the sponsor in 2002, and for the following two years was involved in the Malta Rolex Cup. This was the starting point for a race that would flourish with international fame. In the years since, the race has witnessed a remarkable increase in entries, the quality of crews and vessels, as well as near-global appeal.
For many years, the record number of entries was 34, set in 1974. In 2002, that record was finally broken, with 42 yachts setting sail. The number steadily increased each year, doubling by 2012 and breaching the seemingly impossible barrier of 100 in 2014, a new record of 130 entries. was set.
Apart from 2020, when for Covid reasons only 50 yachts entered, the race has consistently seen more than 100 entries each year.
According to the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was one of the most spectacular and challenging, especially for the smaller boats, due to gale-force winds and tumultuous seas that battered the fleet.
Last year’s 43rd edition’s fleet saw boats ranging in size from 30 feet (9-plus-metres) to 100 feet (30.5 metres) and included some of the most powerful monohulls and multihulls competing on the international racing circuit.
Meet You in Malta
Each year the competition becomes more intense and is undoubtedly just one more exhilarating reason to visit Malta this fall.
Last year’s winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta was the Italian Wally 93 Bullitt, skippered by Andrea Recordati
Emerging victorious as the overall race winner was Andrea Recordati’s Wally 93 Bullitt. For the owner of the Italian yacht, success was momentous and unexpected in equal measure:
“The race was very demanding and challenging. Coming first overall in corrected time, honestly, I am still having difficulty believing it. I am ecstatic. I am super happy for the boat, she deserves it. We put a lot of effort in to optimise and improve her. I am especially happy for my crew. I have an exceptional team and they really deserve this too.”
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BeSeeingYou In: Malta
Good To Know: the .
WOW! Factor: The skills and extreme competition of sailors and their yachts
Tip: Grand views of the departure and return can be obtained all along the northern shores of Malta and Gozo. To get a good look at the boats up close before the race, head to Pieta’ Yacht Marina
Author bio: Albert Fenech
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Photos from Rolex Middle Sea Race
This article was originally published in 2023 and has been updated with current information
