Rolex Middle Sea Race: From Malta round Sicily – a classic race with stunning views

Four men conceived the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 1968: Alan Green and Jimmy White, who lived in Malta, and the Maltese brothers Paul and John Ripard organised the inaugural event. The official founders were their clubs: the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Royal Malta Yacht Club. The idea was as simple as it was brilliant: they wanted a longer course than was usually the case in the area and also scheduled the race for the windier autumn months.

Rolex Middle Sea Race: “Varuna VI” and “Red Bandit” lead the German fleet

Initially, the plan was to hold the race from Malta to Syracuse in Sicily one year, and then from Syracuse back to Malta the following year. However, Paul Ripard then suggested making Malta the starting and finishing port for an XL challenge. As a result, the race became a circumnavigation of Sicily, including Lampedusa, Pantelleria and the Aegadian and Aeolian Islands.

With its 606 nautical miles, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has long been regarded as one of the great long-distance classics in the world of sailing. Every year, it attracts record-breakers and ‘Line Honours’ contenders, renowned offshore teams and ambitious amateur crews. This year, the field includes 108 registered boats There are also eight German skippers and their crews who are taking up the challenge. The best known are Jens Kellinghusen’s fast Ker 56, “Varuna VI”, and Carl Peter Forster’s TP 52, “Red Bandit”.

“Red Bandit” had the Won the IRC overall classification of the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2024. It was the third victory for a German boat, following the successes of Albert Büll’s “Saudade” (1983) and Hasso Plattner’s “Morning Glory” (2006). The “Red Bandit” crew were the youngest in the fleet when they won two years ago. Carl-Peter Forster said at the time: “I am particularly proud of these young people, most of whom had never sailed a large boat four years ago.”

“Black Jack 100” could challenge the record

Meanwhile, the “Red Bandit” crew has also gained a great deal of experience, which is so valuable on this long-distance race. Eric de Turckheim, who finally secured victory in 2022 at the seventh attempt with his NMYD 54 “Teasing Machine” and is a fan of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, said of his team’s success four years ago: “I’m passionate about these 600-nautical-mile races. It’s like running a marathon. It’s that combination of having to be fit round the clock, 24 hours a day, time and time again, of having resilience and mastering teamwork.”

"Experience counts for a lot here." Eric de Turckheim

At the Rolex Middle Sea Race, many eyes are also on the battle for Line Honours and the course record. “Black Jack 100” is back to challenge the record. Remon Vos’s Reichel/Pugh 30 will take part in the race with a crew led by skipper Tristan Le Brun. The often unpredictable Mediterranean weather will have the final say on the outcome. There are also seven former round-the-world yachts on the starting line, all looking to set the pace at the front of the field.

One interesting contender is Sven Heyden’s Knierim 49 ‘Caro’. Tim Ross is leading the crew as skipper in the Rolex Middle Sea Race; the crew includes experienced German offshore sailors such as Ole Satori, Christian Tinnemeier and Jan Schoepe. The crew also includes an Olympic medallist in the form of René Schwall. He won bronze in the Tornado class at the 2000 Sydney Games alongside Roland Gäbler.

The Middle Sea Race gets off to a spectacular start

The start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will be live via the organisers’ YouTube channel and also on Facebook broadcast. The opening stage traditionally offers spectacular sights, as the fleets set off from beneath the towering limestone bastions of Valletta, with beautiful Mediterranean landscapes and the volcanic island of Stromboli awaiting the competitors.

A race like no other – here’s what the sailors and spectators can expect as the 47th edition gets underway, according to the participants in this preview: