Course Map
The Rolex Middle Sea Race course is 606 nautical miles (1,125km)
current Race records
The outright race record is 33 hours 29 minutes 28 seconds set by Jason Carroll's MOD 70 Argo (USA) in 2021
The monohull race record is 40 hours 17 minutes 50 seconds set by the 100 foot / 30.5 metre Comanche (CAY) in 2021
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The start line is located in the centre of Grand Harbour, running from the Saluting Battery, just beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens on the Valletta side, across to Fort St. Angelo in Birgu.
On leaving Malta, the fleet heads north to Capo Passero, on the eastern seaboard of Sicily, and then on up towards the Strait of Messina. The active volcano, Mount Etna, is often visible on the port side. The Strait is one of the most technically demanding parts of the course, with crews keen to encounter both favourable current and wind to enable a straight-forward passage.
Once through the Messina Strait, the yachts head north to the second active volcano on the course, Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands which must be left to port. At the islet of Strombolicchio, the fleet turns west for the passage along the northern coast of Sicily towards the Egadi Islands. Leaving the Egadi Islands (except Marettimo) to port, crews head south towards the island of Lampedusa leaving Pantelleria to port. At Lampedusa, the course heads north-east to the South Comino Channel (between Comino and Malta) and the final leg to the finish line at the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour.
MAIN COURSE DISTANCES
Grand Harbour, Valletta (start) - Capo Passero (Sicily) 55nm
Capo Passero - Messina Strait (exit, Punta del Faro) 98nm
Messina Strait - Strombolicchio 35nm
Strombolicchio - Favignana (Egadi Islands)150nm
Favignana - Pantelleria 74nm
Pantelleria - Lampedusa 90nm
Lampedusa - Comino 94nm
Comino - Marsamxett Harbour (finish) 10nm