Historic 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race Begins: 117 Yachts from 31 Nations Embark on Stunning 606-Mile Adventure

The 46th instalment of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, a revered event in the sailing world, has recently made its way from the royal launch within the grandiosity of Valletta. This year, an awe-inspiring 117 contenders from an array of 31 nations flocked towards the illustrious event.

As the race began within the confines of Valletta’s hallowed Grand Harbour, competitors were greeted with a challenging and highly picturesque 606-nautical mile course. This demanding route stands as a testament to the participants’ navigational prowess, pushing the yachts in an anticlockwise revolution around Sicily and past two volatile volcanoes.

Amongst the grand fleet of 2025, the largest yacht stealing the spotlight is the majestic 100-ft Maxi Black Jack 100, considered the favourite for the monohull line honours. Meanwhile, the smallest yet no less impressive participant is the 30.93m Farr 30 Calypso, skippered by Sebastian Ripard and Daniel Calascione.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race, a captivating contest established back in 1968, is meticulously organized each year by the Royal Malta Yacht Club. The prestigious watch company Rolex has lent its support to this epic 600-nautical mile offshore challenge and the RMYC since 2002, reflecting its commitment to sailing’s golden tradition.