For the 118 yachts and the 1000 crew gathered for the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race, the waiting is almost over. Starting today, Saturday 18 October, at 1100 CEST, from the incomparable setting of Grand Harbour, Valletta, the impressive fleet representing 31 countries faces 606nm of unrelenting challenge. The circular course, which starts and finishes in Malta, is primed once again to throw a complicated set of tasks at the assembled crews. Comprising both monohulls and multihulls, and ranging in length from 9.44 metres (31 feet) to 30.48m (100ft), in familiarity from first-timers to serial attendees, and in experience from apprentices to connoisseurs of the offshore discipline, the armada is in a heightened state of readiness.

Experienced navigator and race router, Mike Broughton, delivered the Weather Briefing at the pre-race skipper’s meeting: “A key feature is the low pressure system likely to spin off the north African coast, near Tripoli, and head northeast, arriving over the course area in the early hours of Sunday morning. For the moment, the start should be in an eight to 11 knot easterly. The fleet should then have a close fetch to Capo Passero on southeast corner of Sicily, and onwards to the Strait. Then it depends on what the low decides to do.” According to Broughton, there are two principal scenarios. The low could deepen delivering heavy rain and gale force winds of 35 knots plus around Syracuse, mostly affecting the slower boats. Or it may not. Further out is even more uncertain.

Fleet Facts: just over 1,000 crew from 53 nations and territories fill the yachts. The oldest participant is 82, with 23 others aged 70 years or more. The three youngest competitors are 15, with 10 more aged 18 or under. The oldest yachts are the 1961 Stormvogel, line honours winner of race in 1968 and 1969, and Patrick and Vincent Harris’ Illingworth and Primrose designed Mowgli of Portsmouth, launched in 1965. The most recent launch is Xavier Bellouard’s all-carbon, scow-hulled Lift 45 Maxitude from Marc Lombard. The largest monohull is Remon Vos’s Black Jack 100; Seb Ripard and Daniel Calascione’s Farr 30 Calypso is the smallest. The Paul Larsen skippered 25.49m catamaran Allegra faces a fascinating contest with the Shannon Falcone led 12.98m foiling cat, Falcon.

The overall winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race and recipient of the magnificent trophy sculpted in bronze is determined by IRC Time Correction. Racing skill, nous and some luck with the weather will play their part in determining the victor from the 102 entries eligible. Black Jack 100 is undoubtedly the fastest in the group and should show a clean transom to the remaining 16 maxis, the cream of which is probably Louis Balcaen’s Maxi 72 Balthasar, featuring a stellar roster of ocean racing talent, including Bouwe Bekking. Others to look out for include Kranendonk, the VO65 from China, featuring 2012 Olympic gold medallist Lijia Xu.

David Griffith’s J/V 62 Whisper from Australia is on her first lap of the course. Clare Costanza, the navigator, shed light on the certainties and uncertainties ahead: “The start looks light to moderate breeze, upwind on starboard but slightly cracked. Finding a clear lane will be one challenge and then, how we set up for the low pressure likely to move across the course on Saturday night, Sunday morning. We are likely to exit Messina in the dark, making it difficult to see all those whirlpools!” 

Further down the ranks, the fleet is packed with a mix of talent and adventurous spirit. Frederic Puzin from France makes an awaited debut with his striking Carkeek 54 Daguet, a couple of years since recording podium finishes with his previous yacht. The Red Bandit team, overall winners in 2024, return but this time with the Botin 56 Black Pearl, after dismasting their TP52 during the Admiral’s Cup earlier this year. It is a massive ask to expect the German crew to repeat last year’s performance, but with the motto “expect nothing, give everything” they are not here to make up the numbers.

Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Italian entry Django Deer is the former Botin 52, Caro, a winner at the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2023. Stronati and his crew are in fine form and tactician Vasco Vascotto brings his irrepressible energy to the mix, commenting: “The Rolex Middle Sea Race is one of the most fascinating and challenging races in the Mediterranean, combining beautiful scenery, pure tactics, and ever-changing weather conditions. Every mile of this race requires absolute concentration.”

No less ambitious, Lee Satariano’s HH42 Artie III is one of several Maltese yachts carrying the weight of the island state’s expectations. A two-time winner with his previous yacht, Satariano’s crew enjoys the calm leadership and extensive knowledge of Christian Ripard, about to embark on his 35th race matching the record of the late Arthur Podesta, another of Malta’s legendary yacht-racers. Satariano is pleased with the preparations for this year’s race, which included the Aegean 600 in July. “The boat is in good shape, so is the crew. We were able to work on it before and after going to Greece. We have the mostly the same people onboard, and are looking forward to the race even if it is unlikely to be our conditions.”

Meanwhile, the Podesta legacy continues to be carried by his children, also two-time winners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race back-to-back in 2019 and 2020, and racing on the family yacht Elusive 2. Gery Trentesaux brings his considerable offshore aptitude to the table with Long Courrier. A winner here in 2018, he has previously won the Rolex Fastnet Race and among his exceptional French crew is Alexis Loison. Loison is a two-time winner of the Rolex Fastnet, remarkably racing double-handed. His most recent success was this summer. Karpo from Slovenia is a popular entry. Matic and Mats Vrecko are on their fourth race, and won class in 2023 with the Elan 450.

Heading into the smaller entries, the potential for captivating performances remains high. Calypso, the Maltese Farr 30 is led by Seb Ripard and Dan Calascione, whose fathers won the race together in 2002, and whose mutual grandfather, John Ripard Sr, won the inaugural race in 1968. No short-handed crew has yet won the Rolex Middle Sea Race, but there are eight such entries this year, with Ivica Kostelic’s Figaro 3 Amelicor one of the top picks. Kostelic is the former Croatian winter sports ace, securing four Olympic medals and a World Cup title.

Another skilled pairing is Marco Paolucci and Niccolo Bertola on the Comet 38s Libertine. Paolucci has done the Rolex Middle Sea Race 13 times, seven times double-handed. “I love this race. I think it’s the best race in the Mediterranean. The organisation is perfect and the race also. It is always different, you never know what it will be like until the start. You never know what will happen until you finish.”

While the main body of the fleet will be racing for the overall prize, there are many other incentives to do well including the simple, but rewarding satisfaction of completing one of the world’s classic 600 milers. The final prize giving is scheduled for Saturday, 25 October, and tomorrow’s start procedures are just the first steps in a long and fascinating journey. While the weather is uncertain, one constant is that an enthralling stream of stories will play out over the coming week.