Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – Complex challenge amid Mediterranean beauty

The Rolex Middle Sea Race bears all the hallmarks of an offshore classic. Starting and finishing in the Grand Harbour of Malta’s capital Valletta, its circumnavigation of Sicily takes in spellbinding scenery, including active volcanoes, and regular encounters with wildlife.

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – Allegra claims Multihull Line Honours

The 84ft Nigel Irens-designed catamaran Allegra, skippered by Paul Larsen and owned by Adrian Keller, crossed the finish line in Malta at 17:23:10 CEST on 21 October, securing Multihull Line Honours and the MOCRA Class victory at the 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – Triumph of Teamwork and Tenacity

The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race concluded on the 25th October  with the final prizegiving in Valletta, Malta. The Maxi 72, Balthasar, received the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy as overall winner on corrected time. Her success owed much to outstanding teamwork and key tactical decision making. An international fleet of 117 yachts contested the 46th edition of this epic 606-nautical mile offshore race which was characterised by light conditions and the perseverance of the competing crews. Line honours as first finisher was claimed by Black Jack 100. Rolex has partnered this annual race and its organizers, Royal Malta Yacht Club, since 2002

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – Balthasar wins the Rolex Middle Sea Race

Balthasar Claims Overall Victory at the 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race.  With a corrected time of 4 days, 17 hours, 20 minutes, and 41 seconds, Balthasar — the Maxi 72 owned by Filip Balcaen and skippered by Louis Balcaen — has secured the overall win under IRC at the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race. A masterful performance across the 606-nautical-mile course, Balthasar delivered consistency and control to triumph in one of offshore sailing’s most prestigious trophies. Congratulations to the entire Balthasar crew on a truly exceptional campaign.

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – Black Jack secures Line Honours

As the first yacht to cross the finish line back in Malta, Black Jack 100 claimed line honours at the 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Completing the 606-nautical mile course in an elapsed time of 2 days, 17 hours, 44 minutes and 7 seconds, Remon Vos’s crew bettered last year’s second place on the water. Having led for most of the contest, Black Jack 100 delivered on her status as the pre-race favourite for monohull line honours.

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 – The grand Valletta departure

2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race Live Start 

The Most Beautiful Offshore Race in the World | Rolex Middle Sea Race 

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is one of the world’s great offshore classics. Starting with a cannon shot from Valletta’s historic bastions, the 606-nautical-mile course circles Sicily, passing active volcanoes, narrow straits and open sea. From flat calms to raging storms, the race tests every sailor’s patience, endurance and skill. But it also delivers moments of pure beauty — sunsets at sea, dolphins alongside, and the thrill of finishing in Malta.

The 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race starts on Saturday, 18 October. Rolex has been Title Sponsor of the contest since 2002, and during that time the race organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) has grown into one of the world’s most renowned 600-nautical mile (1,122 kilometres) offshore classics. An impressive international fleet of more than 100 yachts representing close to 30 countries is expected to line up in Malta’s Grand Harbour for this year’s start.

2024 Spirit of Yachting

In 2024, the Grand Harbour of Malta’s capital Valetta once again provided a spectacular departure point for the professional and amateur crews taking part.Contested by an international fleet of 112 yachts, the 45th edition of the 606-nautical mile race was typically challenging, presenting crews with a myriad of weather conditions.

2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race – Relentless determination of crews produces thrilling finish

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is one of the world’s premier classic yacht races. First held in 1968, it is renowned for the camaraderie among its entrants, with both professional and amateur crews sharing a start line set against the historic backdrop of Malta’s capital Valetta, one of the most spectacular points of embarkation in offshore sailing. 

2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race – Highlights

2023 Rolex Middle Sea Race – An Epic Mediterranean Adventure

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is unique in offshore yacht racing in that it starts and finishes in the same place, the Grand Harbour in Malta’s capital Valletta. Its spectacular course, an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily, takes in the active volcanoes of Etna and Stromboli and a myriad of islands. In 2021, the 114-strong international fleet enjoyed exceptional weather that offered fast downwind sailing virtually the entire way.