Rolex Middle Sea Race: “Varuna VI” and “Red Bandit” are doing well in the race

The 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race is underway. The highly diverse fleet of 107 yachts, carrying 945 sailors from more than 50 countries, set sail this Saturday. Whether professionals or amateurs, everyone faces the same demanding challenges in this European race, which spans 606 nautical miles and is as attractive as it is challenging.

Spectacular views of the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race

The first of these comes shortly after the start of the race, following the first leg along the east coast of Sicily via the Strait of Messina, as the contenders set off from Valletta to race anti-clockwise round Sicily and back. At 11.00 am, seven cannon shots signalled the start of the long-distance classic race covering 606 nautical miles. The IRC-6 group was the first to set off in light winds.

The sailing spectacle took place once again in the natural ‘Hafenthater’ of Malta’s Grand Harbour, which offers spectators magnificent views of the boats setting off. In the second start of the day, the ‘Löwe von Bremen’ was one of the most eye-catching boats. It was only during the last two races that the wind picked up a little. That’s when the defending IRC champion ‘Balthasar’, which had made an almost perfect start to the race, came under immediate attack from the record-chasing ‘Black Jack 100’.

When “Balthasar” had to give way to “Black Jack 100” shortly afterwards, she came across Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s “Django 7X”, which the owner himself skippers, whilst, on the same day, his Cape 31 “Django” won silver in Saint-Tropez at the first-ever Gold Cup for the new Boom class. Another tactical battle ensued, even before the leading boats had even left the harbour. By late on Saturday evening, just under twelve hours after the first start, the fields had already begun to sort themselves out a little.

“Varuna VI” and “Red Bandit” were well placed in the race on the evening after the start

At around 10 pm, Reichel/Pugh’s 30 “Black Jack 100” had taken the lead, some 14 nautical miles ahead of the Wallyrocket 71 “Django 7X”. Close behind, skipper Louis Balcaen and his crew were applying pressure aboard the 72-foot Mills-Maxi “Balthasar”. They had won the IRC overall classification in last year’s Mediterranean Classic.

Jens Kellinghusen’s “Varuna VI” was also well placed on the first evening of racing. The Ker 56, racing for the North German Regatta Club, was only about one nautical mile behind the fourth-placed British Volvo Open 70 “Pace”. At that point, that would have been good for a strong fourth place in the overall IRC standings, and even second place in IRC 2.

Skipper Adrian Hoesch and the crew on Carl-Peter Forster’s “Red Bandit” fought their way up to 16th place in the pure line-honours classification on Saturday evening. In 2024, the team had won the IRC overall classification of the Won the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2024. In the overall standings, the “Red Bandit” initially secured eighth place at the start of the current edition, and even fourth place in IRC 2. Both German crews have thus made a strong start.

A German doubles team goes on the attack

Martin Buck and Yves de Block also got off to a remarkably good start on the Neo 430 Roma “Mia Gioia” in the IRC double-handed class. This was evident throughout the day. At around 10.30 pm on Saturday evening, they were in second place behind the JPK 10.50 “Solenn for pure Ocean”.

Click here for the live tracker for the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

With the breeze dying down, the fleet battled for every mile of progress in the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday evening. Unstable conditions and tactical challenges are also expected for the stretch along the north coast of Sicily, following the passage through the Strait of Messina.

Sent off on the long-distance race to the sound of cannon fire – the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race is underway: