The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race has its first finisher. The 100-foot Black Jack, owned by Remon Vos and skippered by Tristan Le Brun, crossed the finish line at 05:45 CEST on Tuesday morning to claim line honours, capturing the title that so narrowly eluded the team last year.
The mood at the Royal Malta Yacht Club lifted immediately as the jet black maxi powered through Marsamxett Harbour to complete the iconic 606 nautical mile course around Sicily. The finish marked not just a moment of relief, but the beginning of celebrations for the crew after a hard fought circumnavigation.
“Winning line honours at the Rolex Middle Sea Race is very special,” said owner Remon Vos. “It is a big race, a significant achievement for the team and for the boat.”
Skipper Tristan Le Brun echoed that sentiment. “This is always a great accomplishment in any sailor’s career. For all of us, as a team, it is the first time with Black Jack, and we are extremely proud.”
Unlike last year, Black Jack sailed this edition without direct competition from another racing maxi of similar size or power. Yet, the achievement remains impressive. The new look crew, assembled at the start of the year, handled a yacht that had undergone significant winter modifications, including an eye-catching new livery.
Le Brun described the conditions as both demanding and rewarding. “This boat is highly complex, and to complete the course with one hundred per cent success is a triumph. The winds were challenging, with a lot of rain on the first night, difficult conditions north of Sicily, and very light airs on the way south. We even had someone up the rig for several hours searching for wind to stay ahead of Balthasar, who did a fantastic job finishing not too far behind.”
For Vos and Le Brun, the Black Jack project has been about more than just crossing the line first, although their 2025 record tells its own story. The yacht set a new race record at the Gotland Rund in June, secured line honours at the Rolex Fastnet Race in July, and broke its own Palermo Montecarlo Race record in August.
“I think what is really cool on our boat is that we have an international, versatile crew,” said Le Brun. “We have many nationalities from the four corners of the globe. They fly under the radar, but they are immensely talented and take pride in what they do.”
Vos praised the team’s collective spirit: “You always want to improve, get faster, get better. That is sport. What makes it special is the passion, the drive, and the way this crew works together. It is beautiful to see their dedication and talent. It means the world to them.”
Beyond the racing, both men found time to appreciate the environment around them. Vos described the turn at Lampedusa as special, recalling how the yacht was flying downwind at 18 knots under a sky full of stars. Le Brun was equally captivated, noting the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets, as well as sightings of turtles and dolphins swimming alongside the boat.
But it was not all serenity at sea. The Maltese entry Balthasar, owned by Louis Balcaen and skippered by Bouwe Bekking, pushed hard from the very start. The 91 foot maxi surged out of Grand Harbour at the gun, momentarily seizing the spotlight as it led the fleet through Marsamxett. Despite being nine metres shorter than Black Jack, Balthasar maintained relentless pressure throughout.
“Our consistency was the key,” said Bekking. “The crew have sailed together for a long time. The first 12 hours were brutal, with torrential rain, poor visibility, and constant trimming, but we kept the boat moving and stayed patient.”
Balcaen added, “It was a mental game. Every decision counted. We stayed north of the rhumb line early, avoiding a squall that trapped much of the fleet. Later, near Pantelleria, the Tunisian Coast Guard even called us to ask what we were doing so close to their coast. From Lampedusa back to Malta, we had perfect reaching conditions, fast, exhilarating sailing.”
Posting a corrected time ahead of Black Jack, Balthasar now leads the IRC standings for the overall race victory, with over 90 yachts still competing on the course. “To even have a chance to win this race is an honour,” Balcaen said. “Crossing the line was pure emotion.”
Still out on the water, the next yacht expected home is the 84-foot Swiss catamaran Allegra, skippered by Paul Larsen, which is on course to take victory in the MOCRA class after a challenging but determined performance. Close behind are Daguet 5, a French Carkeek 54 competing in IRC2, and the Australian J V62 Whisper, both nearing the finish in Marsamxett Harbour.
As the rest of the fleet battles their way back to Valletta, Black Jack’s triumph once again cements her place among the world’s elite offshore racing yachts, ensuring that the Rolex Middle Sea Race continues to deliver drama, endurance, and spectacle worthy of its legendary reputation.
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