The 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race sets sail from Grand Harbour, Valletta, on Saturday, 18 October at 1100 CEST, with 13 Maltese crews among 118 entries.
Run by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the 606 nautical mile course circles Sicily and its islands, taking the fleet through the Strait of Messina, past Stromboli and the Aeolian Islands, around the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, before finishing back in Malta. The start cannon from the Saluting Battery and staggered class starts create one of the most dramatic scenes in offshore sport.
Leading the local challenge are past overall winners Artie III and Elusive 2. Artie III returns with co-skippers Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, whose 35th participation equals the late Arthur Podestà’s record, after a strong Aegean 600 showing. Elusive 2, sailed by the Podestà siblings, continues their measured, family-led campaign that delivered back-to-back overall victories in 2019 and 2020.
Depth comes from seasoned Maltese programmes. Ton Ton Laferla Insurance lines up for a 17th start after placing third in IRC 4 at the Yachting Malta Coastal Race. Lunz am Meer, the Swan 651, arrives with a largely Maltese crew and has recently finished second in IRC 3. Vivace switches from double-handed to a full crew after a class win earlier this week, while Otra Vez and Geisha return with settled teams and clear roles after noteworthy results last year.
New and developing stories add energy. Mistral Racing MT, a Sun Fast 3600 co-skippered by Matthew Scicluna and Zach Cassar Torreggiani, made a promising start with third in IRC 6 at the Coastal Race. The Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation fields two J/109s, pairing emerging talent with experience; JYS Jan took second in IRC 6, underlining the pathway’s impact.
For Maltese crews, the race is about pride as much as it is about performance. As the cannons echo across Grand Harbour, the local fleet will measure itself against a world-class entry, relying on preparation, teamwork and seamanship to master a course famous for changeable currents and local breezes. Whatever the results, the message endures: the Maltese spirit remains unshakable and forever tied to the sea.
Start line: Between the Saluting Battery and Fort St Angelo. Watch live from 1030 CEST: English commentary on the Rolex Middle Sea Race YouTube channel; Maltese commentary on TVM i.
