Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Always inspiring

by Quinag 10 Oct 2024 06:21 PDT 19 October 2024
Start of the 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

Few sailing events offer the Rolex Middle Sea Race's guarantee of a beautiful race course and compelling, exacting competition. This combination has attracted sailors since the very first race in 1968.

Rolex has been Title Sponsor of the contest since 2002, and during that period, the appeal of the race organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) has grown exponentially. Today, it is undisputedly regarded as one of the world's leading 600-nautical mile (1,122 kilometres) offshore races.

In 2024, the 45th edition starts on Saturday, 19 October. An impressive international fleet of over 100 yacths from more than 25 countries is expected to participate. Among them will be professionally crewed Maxi yachts and a significant number of smaller, more Corinthian competitors. The yachts may differ in size, design and technology, and the crews may range in levels of experience and expertise, but out on the water, all are equal. The handicapping system provides a platform for any boat to potentially triumph. Who sails best in the prevailing conditions, wins.

Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, an Olympic gold medallist and three-time SailGP winner, competed in the 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race: "The Rolex Middle Sea Race is so beautiful. Leaving Malta out of Grand Harbour, going through the Messina Strait, around Stromboli, the active volcano, and then all the islands around Sicily, it is simply stunning. It is something I really want to do again."

As Slingsby identifies, one of the most compelling elements of the race is the setting: impressive architecture, extraordinary nature and absorbing history. It is rare among offshore races in starting and finishing in the same place, in this case, Malta. Primarily an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Sicily, the race can be divided into several distinct sections, each with its own character and challenge. Each leg demands precise navigation and the flexibility to adapt tactics to the state of the wind and sea. The start, from Grand Harbour in the capital city of Valletta, is always a grandiose and impressive affair. Further highlights include the two active volcanoes of Etna and Stromboli, as well as the wild beauty of the islands peppered around Sicily - Favignana, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, to name but three.

For the fastest entries competing for line honours, finishing within 48 hours is considered an impressive return. The two days at sea are intense and unrelenting, with minimal respite. The current monohull race record of 40 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds was set in 2021 by Comanche, the 30.48 metre (100 foot) Maxi.

For the majority of the fleet, the race takes four to six days. This requires a different approach and mindset. With navigational and tactical demands constant, resources need to be managed carefully. Meticulous preparation of boat and crew, plus time spent honing teamwork, and building knowledge as well as experience of offshore racing, is crucial. And, on occasions, the commitment and dedication is rewarded with the ultimate achievement. Since Rolex became involved 22 years ago, the trophy for overall victory has been shared evenly between Corinthian and professional crews.

Slingsby admires all those who compete, whatever their finishing position: "I have a lot of respect for anyone that races offshore. It is tough when you hit bad weather and you are going upwind in 30 knots of breeze and big waves, day in day out, particularly in a smaller boat. It is really hard going, both mentally and physically, and for me these big ocean races are the ultimate challenge in yacht racing."

Over the past 20 years, the world's most renowned racing yachts, crewed by elite sailing talent, have graced the event, including: five-time line honours winner Rambler 88 from the United States; the imperious Comanche, triumphant at both the Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race; Leopard 3, monohull line honours winner in 2009, 2022 and 2023; and Esimit Europa 2, which dominated the Mediterranean competitive scene between 2010 and 2014.

The RMYC, founded in 1835, is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the region. Recognized for its active pathway programmes, young sailors are encouraged to participate in the race as their skills develop. The club also recognizes its responsibility to protect the waters that support its flagship race. In recent years, it has redoubled efforts. The latest strategic commitment guides not only the club's operations and events towards a more sustainable future, it is also designed to influence and inspire competitors at the Rolex Middle Sea Race to adopt more ecofriendly practices.

According to David Cremona, the Commodore: "It is important that organizations like the Royal Malta Yacht Club take the lead in looking to the development of sailing and how we interact with nature. These two initiatives are in place to help nurture the sport and safeguard the environment in which it is practised. Through the support of our long-term partner Rolex, this race offers the perfect platform to increase the profile and effectiveness of both these programmes."

This commitment to youth participation and to sustainability ties in closely with Rolex's long-standing vision of supporting yacht clubs as the principal guardians of both the traditions and the future of sailing. In such hands, the Rolex Middle Sea Race looks set to flourish for many years to come.

Related Articles

IMTRA introduces Zipwake PRO
The ultimate upgrade to Zipwake's award-winning Dynamic Trim Control System IMTRA, the leading manufacturer and importer of quality solutions and products for the marine, energy and transportation markets, announced today the introduction of the newest innovation in vessel pitch and roll control, Zipwake PRO. Posted on 10 Jul
Silent Yachts launch solar-electric SY80 catamaran
Ready for its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 Silent Yachts has completed its most complex project to date. The Italian builder's first SY80 solar-electric catamaran has been launched and is preparing for its world debut at the upcoming Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 (9-14 September). Posted on 9 Jul
New Online BoatUS Foundation Course
Taking on Biggest Cause of Accidents: Distracted Boating A quick look at the annual U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics shows “operator inattention” and “improper lookout” to be perennial placeholders in the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents. Posted on 8 Jul
VISIONF Yachts unveils Superfast 46
A new speedboat with 80 knots max speed VISIONF Yachts, renowned for its cutting-edge luxury power catamarans, has revealed the latest jewel in its performance portfolio — the VISIONF Superfast 46, a 14-meter, high-speed masterpiece capable of reaching a staggering 80 knots. Posted on 7 Jul
Inside Maritimo Newsletter - Take a Virtual Tour
Experience the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovative design that define Maritimo Take a moment to indulge in our immersive virtual tours, available through the form link below. Experience the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovative design that define Maritimo, all from the comfort of your own home. Posted on 4 Jul
Baglietto launch first DOM115 Superyacht
A 35-meter masterpiece by Stefano Vafiadis with interiors by Baglietto design team The first unit of the DOM115, the entry-level model of the line designed by Stefano Vafiadis, was officially launched in recent days. Posted on 3 Jul
Grand Trawler 63
A new benchmark in elegant voyaging With the launch of the Grand Trawler 63, BENETEAU sets a new benchmark in long-distance luxury cruising. Posted on 3 Jul
Palm Beach GT60 Jet Drive
A head-turning vision that sets a new standard in customization It's a question often asked by outsiders looking at Palm Beach Motor Yacht's vibrant new product introductions and development pipeline: What was the genesis for this particular design? Posted on 2 Jul
The new Beneteau Swift Trawler 37
The latest family cruiser from the world's leading marine brand The eye-catching new arrival in the fleet of BENETEAU's modern passagemakers is the Swift Trawler 37. The latest family cruiser from the world's leading marine brand replaces the Swift Trawler 35, balancing enhanced design and comfort on board. Posted on 2 Jul
Marine Auctions: Special July Online Auction
The bidding will end on Tuesday 22 July at 2pm AEST The alternative way of selling any type of vessel or marine asset with proven and successful results. Posted on 2 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M600