Time to Deliver: Rolex Middle Sea Race Starts Tomorrow
by Rolex Middle Sea Race Media 18 Oct 08:53 PDT
19 October 2024
Start of the 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex
Rolex Middle Sea Race © RMYC / Alex Turnbull
The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race begins tomorrow, Saturday, 19 October, at 11:00 CEST from Grand Harbour, Valletta. The Mediterranean’s premier offshore race is poised for yet another classic event.
A variety of yacht designs and crews will compete against each other, as well as a shared challenge… the weather. The remarkable fleet will need to think quickly, as the forecasted conditions are expected to test their preparation, sail selections, strategies, patience, and endurance. The 606 nautical mile circular course is prepared to fulfill its traditional promise of a true mix of wind angles and sea conditions. Participants’ yachts range in length from 9.43 meters (31 feet) to 30.48m (100ft) and include crewmembers from novices to seasoned veterans. The overall winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race and the recipient of the exquisite trophy will be determined by IRC Time Correction, emphasizing skill over size.
A few key facts: nearly 1,000 crew members from 42 nations are divided among 112 yachts representing 30 countries. The oldest competitor is 80 years old and the youngest is 14. The oldest yacht is Timothy Wilson’s Auzepy-Brenneur 68 El Oro, launched in 1974, while the newest is Wolf Scheder-Bieschin’s Judel/Vrolijk 43, Vineta, from 2024. Seb Ripard and Daniel Calascione’s Farr 30 Calypso is the smallest. In contrast, the largest entries are Seng Huang Lee’s Scallywag 100 from Hong Kong and Remon Vos’s Black Jack 100. Although both yachts are making their debut in the current configurations and ownership, they have a history with the race, having first appeared in 2006 as Maximus and Alfa Romeo II, respectively, with Alfa securing line honors. Much has changed since then.
Black Jack changed ownership this year and enters the race after securing line honors at the 243nm Giraglia and 437nm Palermo – Monte Carlo, where it also broke the course record. Racing skipper Tristan Le Brun is eager to challenge the crew on a longer and more demanding course: “What’s intriguing about the Rolex Middle Sea Race is the frequent transitions; we know the wind will shift in both direction and strength multiple times. This makes the race thrilling and quite challenging. Black Jack is ideal for this because it performs well in various conditions.” The 30.46m yacht previously, under the name Esimit Europa 2, achieved four line honors victories from 2010 to 2014. This year, however, the competition may be tougher than in the past: “We face strong rivals this year, notably Scallywag, which is quite similar to us and has a competitive team. Lucky is also a canting keeler and can excel in many conditions, as can Bullitt. Those are the three boats we must keep an eye on and try to outpace!”
Moreover, Scallywag, which holds the Hong Kong to Hainan race record and is led by David Witt, underwent a significant refit in 2023, including a new mast and boom. This race provides a chance to showcase its enhanced offshore capabilities.
Returning is last year’s overall winner, Andrea Recordati’s 93ft Bullitt, who won by just 24 seconds, with a reinforced crew that includes Marcel van Triest, an experienced ocean racer and weather router. Francesco ‘Checco’ Bruni, Luna Rossa’s port-side helm, has joined the crew after arriving from Barcelona. “It may seem unbelievable for a sailor from Palermo,” said Bruni, “but this is my first Rolex Middle Sea Race. I’ll be taking advice from my brother Ganga, who has participated in many.” Lucky from the United States, the former five-time line honors winner Rambler 88, poses a significant threat if the wind is strong. New owner Bryan Ehrhart has experienced both the highs and lows of this race; he was an overall winner in 2010 with a TP52, but last year faced a dismasting with his latest vessel.
While strong southern winds are predicted at the start, the overall conditions appear too unstable for an attempt to break the monohull race record of 40 hours, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds set in 2021. “The forecast differs significantly from recent years, featuring substantial wind, rain, and scattered thunderstorms, along with large patches of light air,” warns Rolex Middle Sea Race Weather Forecaster Mike Broughton. “A low-pressure system is moving across Sicily, accompanied by a frontal system expected before the race’s start, followed by a trough. To compound the challenge, Sicily’s topography will cause significant wind variations due to land effects. This will create a true test for the entire fleet, likely involving numerous sail changes and reefing. Wind speeds from 3 to 33 knots are anticipated during the first 60 hours, making this a demanding and exhausting race for all teams, from Maxis to double-handers.”
Bullitt’s navigator, van Triest, verifies the pending challenges: “A trough is approaching, and its speed will be crucial. Over the past few days, its pace has fluctuated, but it currently appears it will arrive around 13:00 on Saturday. Just one hour earlier or later could significantly impact the race. There will be a good breeze before the trough passes, but the wind will lighten afterward. The early decision will be critical: can you catch the wave out or not?”
To avoid a delayed departure, the fleet is filled with highly skilled competitors, including many past winners among the crews. Eric de Turckheim returns to the site of his 2022 triumph with the 54ft Teasing Machine from France. Mitch Booth, a 2021 winner with Comanche, has reduced the size of his boat to join Franco Niggeler’s crew on the Cookson 50 Kuka 3. Niggeler has competed more than ten times. “There are two unique aspects to this race. First, Malta is a stunning location. Second, it’s the only race where you encounter so many diverse meteorological situations. It’s a marvelous challenge.” Stefan Jentzsch’s Botin 56 Black Pearl from Germany, this year’s Aegean 600 winner, has brought back Marc Lagesse, the winning navigator from Bullitt. Maltese sailors Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, victorious together in 2011 and 2014, are competing again with Satariano’s latest entry, Artie, an HH42. “Considering the current forecast, the first night might be quite challenging,” Ripard noted. “While the wind may be light, rain and thunderstorms are forecasted right where we need to go, which could lead to unexpected squalls.”
The Podesta siblings from Malta, Aaron, Christoph, and Maya, are back with their First 45 Elusive 2, which won consecutively in 2019 and 2020, while French sailor Géry Trentesaux, who captained the top boat in 2018, participates with a Sydney 43, Long Courrier.
Among the newcomers to the course, the pristine Maxi72 Balthasar stands out. While the boat is making its first appearance in the race, its crew is comprised of experienced offshore sailors, many of whom have raced previously. Stu Bannatyne, Louis Balcaen, and Pablo Arrate join Bouwe Bekking among others. Bekking shared his thoughts on the course ahead: “The most appealing aspect is the numerous turns and islands, which provide many chances to excel. You race within your class but compete against the whole fleet for the overall trophy. Everyone is a competitor, as we saw last year. You really need to give it your all.”
Steve Hayles is another seasoned sailor on a boat making its debut, Alex Laing’s ICE52 Goose. “It’s difficult to determine whether this is a large or small boat race. All models are grappling with the timing of the low-pressure trough. The system isn’t well-defined, and its timing will significantly influence the race’s opening hours. I believe it will be an exciting race with the diverse conditions we often anticipate from the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Winning is never straightforward, which keeps us returning yearly!”
At the other end of the spectrum is Pippa Bartolo Parnis, sailing on the 35ft J/109 Jarhead, entered by the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation (JYS). She is one of three youngest competitors experiencing their first Rolex Middle Sea Race. “I am eagerly looking forward to it. I’ve participated in some shorter offshore races this year and love the freedom of being at sea. I also enjoy the team dynamics, feeling like a big family onboard,” said Bartolo Parnis, 15, who has been actively involved in the boat’s preparation.
Participating in this race at a young age is a rite of passage for many Maltese sailors. Christian Ripard’s debut was at age 15 in 1976. He offered guidance to the newcomers: “The Rolex Middle Sea Race can be an easy or a tough experience; don’t underestimate the Mediterranean. Participate because you’re eager and ambitious, and importantly, race with knowledgeable individuals!” Bartolo Parnis is indeed on the right path. The JYS Foundation, based in Malta, provides aspiring ocean racers with the skills and resilience needed for such a demanding challenge. Many graduates are among the fleet, with Jarhead captained by 25-year-old alumnus Gary Mercieca, competing for the fourth time. “Being with Gary inspires me,” remarked Bartolo Parnis. “His journey shows what I can achieve with hard work and dedication.” Notably, parental consent is mandatory for all participants under 18.
While most of the fleet aims for the overall title, awarded to the best yacht under IRC time correction, there are many other motivations to perform well, including the rewarding experience of completing one of the world’s iconic 600-mile races. The Rolex Middle Sea Race marks the start of the RORC Season’s Points Championship 2025, is the kickoff of the International Maxi Association Mediterranean Offshore Challenge, and is part of the Swan Maxi Series. There’s an ORC division and competing Nautor Swan yachts are vying for a Mediterranean Challenge trophy. Double-handers have line honors and handicap class trophies to contest, just like local Maltese entries.
The final award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 26 October, and the starting procedures tomorrow morning are merely the initial steps in an exciting and lengthy journey. While the weather may be unpredictable, one certainty is that a captivating array of stories will unfold throughout the coming week.
www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
