2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race Notice of Race published and entries now open
by Rolex Middle Sea Race Media 3 Mar 06:49 PST
18 October 2025
IRC 5 start the 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race start © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo
The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is delighted to announce the publication of the Notice of Race for the 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Scheduled to commence on Saturday, 18 October 2025, this iconic 606-nautical-mile offshore race is now officially open for entries.
Renowned for its challenging and picturesque course, the Rolex Middle Sea Race offers sailors a unique opportunity to navigate a circular route that starts and finishes in Malta, encompassing a near-complete circumnavigation of Sicily. Participants will enjoy a diverse range of sailing conditions and breathtaking scenery, including active volcanoes, narrow straits, and open sea passages.
Notice of Race
Starting from Valletta's incomparable and historic Grand Harbour, the course takes competitors north to the Strait of Messina, providing views of Mount Etna, around the volcanic island of Stromboli, west along Sicily's northern coast, before diving south past the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, and the return to the Maltese archipelago. This route not only tests sailing prowess, but also offers a visual feast of the Mediterranean's natural beauty.
RMYC Commodore Mark Napier is already looking forward to this year's edition:
"Set against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean, the Rolex Middle Sea Race course is second to none. With its challenging conditions, strategic complexity, and breathtaking scenery, it offers an unparalleled experience, circling one of the most beautiful and historic race courses in the world."
Continuing the enthusiastic theme, Commodore Napier added: "Malta, with its warm hospitality and rich maritime heritage, is proud to be able to welcome a global fleet once again. In turn, the Royal Malta Yacht Club looks forward to seeing new and familiar competitors at the start line come October, and sharing in the competitive spirit that defines this legendary race."
The 2024 edition was one of the most memorable on record. Underwritten by true evidence of camaraderie and team spirit, the overriding story was one of overcoming adversity and pushing through. The remarkable fleet of 112 yachts from 30 countries encompassed vessels ranging from the 30.5 metre/100-foot Maxis Scallywag 100 from Hong Kong and the European-based Black Jack 100 to the 9.43m/30ft Calypso from Malta.
Competition was fierce, culminating with Carl-Peter Forster's 15.85m/52ft German entry Red Bandit clinching overall victory under IRC Time Correction. Almost entirely crewed by sailors under the age of 30, the team's success owed much to the willingness of Forster and the sole pro onboard, the irrepressible Jesper Radich, to encourage and nurture. It was also testament to the crew's passion for the sport, their desire to improve and overwhelmingly dynamic spirit. This impressive character kept Red Bandit on pace throughout a testing race that mixed light winds with strong, and rough seas with flat calm.
The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race is open to both monohulls and multihulls, and always attracts a diverse mix of professional and amateur crews, both fully-crewed and double-handed, from all-out racers to dual-purpose cruisers. The race offers both competition and adventure, so caters for the experienced and those less well versed in offshore racing, The main monohull prizes are awarded to yachts rated under IRC, with an ORC division also available. Multihulls compete under the MOCRA rating system, and one-design classes, such as Class40s, are warmly welcomed.
The race holds significant standing in the international sailing community, forming part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's (RORC) Season Points Championship, the International Maxi Association's Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Championship, and Nautor Swan's Maxi Series. These affiliations highlight the race's standing and its appeal to a broad spectrum of sailors worldwide.
In line with its commitment to delivering the best possible experience, as well as the highest standards of race organization and safety, the RMYC continues its collaboration with the RORC, which provides valuable support to the RMYC's Race Management Team. Additionally, Herman "Mufti" Kling will once again lead the International Jury, with many members working remotely to reduce the event's environmental footprint.
Sustainability remains a key focus for the RMYC. The BICREF Trophy will be awarded to the crew that submits the best photographic or video evidence of dolphin or whale sightings during the race. This initiative, in partnership with the Biological Conservation Research Foundation, contributes valuable scientific data about vulnerable cetacean species in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the RMYC is collaborating with Zibel, a Maltese non-profit organization dedicated to marine conservation, to implement effective waste management practices and promote environmental awareness among participants.
Beyond the longstanding and welcome support of title partner Rolex, the RMYC also relies upon partnerships with Yachting Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta and the Armed Forces of Malta.
The Notice of Race and the online entry system are now accessible through the online Official Notice Board. Competitors are encouraged to submit their applications promptly to secure their place and preferred berthing. The RMYC looks forward to welcoming the fleet to Malta in October 2025, continuing the proud tradition of this extraordinary race.
For more information and to register, please visit the official Rolex Middle Sea Race website: www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
Registration here