Rolex Middle Sea Race 2026, Battle Lines Drawn
The 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race burst into life today as 107 yachts carrying 945 sailors representing 55 countries set sail from Malta's magnificent Grand Harbour. Against the backdrop of towering limestone bastions of Valletta and the Three Cities, seven cannon-fire starts sent the fleet on the 606-nautical-mile race around Sicily.
Light airs did little to diminish the spectacle. From the smallest double-handed yachts to the powerful 100-foot maxi Black Jack 100, the Grand Harbour provides a magnificent natural amphitheatre for the start of one of offshore sailing's great adventures. Thousands of spectators watched from the historic waterfront, with thousands more following the live broadcast around the world, as the fleet manoeuvred for position, seeking clear air and an early advantage. There was plenty of action.
Seven Starts – No Shortage of Competition
The opening IRC 6 start at 11:00 CEST saw Red Ruby make a superb getaway at the pin end of the line, alongside Callisto and Munjek. Ten minutes later, Courrier Pogo was among the quickest away in IRC 5, with Loewe von Bremen and Jules also prominent.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club contingent made its presence felt in the third start. Luis Azzopardi's IMX 45 Kixx Me with three sailors under 18, including Lily Ellul aged 15, the Podesta family's First 45 Elusive 2, Mario Debono's Grand Soleil 46 Seven and Jonathan Gambin's Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla Insurance all made strong departures, and providing plenty for the home crowd to cheer. The fourth start was equally competitive, with Dubrovnik, About Time and Mia Gioia catching the eye as IRC 3 got underway.
The fifth start brought some of the specialist offshore machines into the spotlight. Among the five Class40s, Optimus Prime, Stella Nova and Flamingo Rosso pushed hard from the outset. Unlike the IRC fleet, the Class40s race for first past the post, promising an uncompromising contest of speed and endurance. The multihulls, starting in the same sequence, have their own battle for honours under MOCRA, with the ORC 50 Calamity making the best start.
The wind strengthened for the final two starts, which featured some of the fastest boats in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and the intensity increased accordingly. IRC 2 produced a lively encounter between James Neville's Botin 65 Artemis Bleu and Frédéric Puzin's Carkeek 54 Daguet 5, with Arkas Blue Moon joining the fight for position. The three yachts were already locked in close competition as they traded tacks and accelerated away from Malta after clearing Grand Harbour.
The final start delivered the most dramatic exchange of the morning. Defending overall champion Balthasar, the Mills 72 skippered by Louis Balcaen, nailed the start close to the Saluting Battery, but was immediately challenged by the imposing Black Jack 100 starting from a more central position. Balthasar eventually tacked close to the bastions and ducked behind Black Jack 100, straight into a close encounter with Django 7X, skippered by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. It was a thrilling display of tactical racing, with the leading contenders locked into a highly anticipated battle well before they had even cleared Grand Harbour.
A Spectacular Send-Off
Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore Mark Napier was delighted with the successful departure of the fleet: “The start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race always delivers a dramatic spectacle and, even in light airs, the fleet were an impressive sight as they set off this morning. The Royal Malta Yacht Club is delighted that the crews got away without difficulty and are now well on their way to Sicily. We look forward to their stories from the course and eventually welcoming them back to Malta over the coming days.”
The Race Takes Shape – Day One Tracker Update
Several hours after the start, the battle for monohull line honours remains intense. At just after 16:00 CEST, Black Jack 100 was first past Capo Passero on the southeastern tip of Sicily, holding a two-nautical-mile lead over Johnny Vincent's Volvo 70 Pace. Behind them, Django 7X and Balthasar were racing side by side, still within sight of the leading pair.
Jen Kellinghusen's Ker 56 Varuna VI and Alex Laing's VO65 Jajo were equally closely matched, with Black Jack 100 still visible on the horizon. Another tightly packed group featured Artemis Bleu, Daguet 5, Il Mostro and Wind Whisper. Remarkably, just seven nautical miles separated the leading ten monohulls on the water as they approached the first major mark of the course.
It is far too early to draw conclusions from IRC corrected-time rankings, but Pace was provisionally leading both overall and IRC 1, ahead of Django 7X and Balthasar. With only a fraction of the 606-nautical-mile course completed, these early handicap positions should be treated with caution. The challenges ahead could dramatically reshape the standings.
Among the multihulls, Calamity had established an 11-nautical-mile lead on the water over Luke Seawalker, with Garbina J third. The Class40 competition was considerably tighter. Optimus Prime held a slender one-nautical-mile advantage over both Flamingo Rosso and Stella Nova, setting up a fascinating first-night contest.
Darkness Beckons
With the breeze expected to fade into the evening, progress on the early passage towards Capo Passero could prove crucial. Getting north of this point before the wind weakens may deliver an important advantage. The notoriously difficult Strait of Messina awaits and the patchy forecast wind along Sicily's northern coast promise further tactical challenges. So, while the fleet may have enjoyed a spectacular departure, but the real battle is only beginning.
