23 October, Valletta, Malta: At 1200 CEST, the overall winner of the 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was announced as the Mills 72 Balthasar, led by Louis Balcaen. The Royal Malta Yacht Club has confirmed that none of the remaining yachts still racing is able to better Balthasar’s IRC corrected time. The crew knew they had sailed an exceptional race as soon as they crossed the finish line in Marsamxett Harbour, set against the stunning backdrop of Valletta aglow in Tuesday’s morning sun. Balthasar’s corrected time set a high bar for those left on the course, a bar that proved too much despite the best efforts of even Django Deer, whose corrected time was just five minutes adrift. The smaller boats would be undone eventually by the sustained period of light winds around Lampedusa yesterday. Balcaen, who has sailed in two round the world races, described the possibility of victory as “a dream realised, our first big win — the perfect combination of teamwork, precision, and a little bit of luck.” After a challenging season, he said winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race “would mean the world to every sailor on board.” Balthasar Crew: Louis Balcaen, Arianne Van de Loosdrecht, Bouwe Bekking, Diego Torrado, Dirk de Ridder, Harry Owens, Harry Smith, Henri Demesmaeker, Jaime Ward, Javier De la Plaza, Jens Dolmer, Juan Totto, Louis-Robert Cool, Max Deckers, Pablo Arrarte, Rogier van Overveld, Simbad Quiroga.

“Tactically, this was a fascinating and at times brutal race,” commented Bouwe, shortly after finishing.  “The weather kept changing its mind, so it was all about staying alert and making decisions early — sometimes before the data fully agreed. We had to be patient and disciplined, always thinking two steps ahead, especially in those long transitions where the wind died completely. Offshore racing rewards the teams that adapt quickest, and that’s where this crew really shines.” “We’ve been sailing together a long time, and that makes an enormous difference. Everyone knows their role; the communication is sharp, and when it’s time to change gears — a sail change, a course shift — it happens instantly. That consistency is what keeps the performance steady through 600 miles of unpredictable weather.” Confirming one of the key moments in the race was on the approach to Pantelleria, Bekking explained how Balthasar sailed far to the west, hunting for pressure and found it.  “For a while it looked risky,” he admitted. “The Tunisian Coast Guard even called us up to ask what we were doing there! But that move paid off; we came out with good speed and set up perfectly for the reach home from Lampedusa.” “To come away not just winning our class but taking the overall is a huge credit to the whole team. This race has a character of its own — tactically complex, full of traps, but immensely rewarding when it comes together. After all these years racing around the world, it’s fantastic to win a classic like the Rolex Middle Sea Race with such a committed, talented crew,” concluded Bekking. Balthasar will be presented with the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy at the Rolex Middle Sea Race Prize Giving on Saturday 25 October.