Ready to Compete: Rolex Middle Sea Race Kicks Off 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 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will commence tomorrow, Saturday 19 October, at 11:00 CEST from Grand Harbour, Valletta. This prominent Mediterranean offshore race is set to deliver yet another exciting event.
A wide array of yacht designs and teams will face each other, united by one challenge: the unpredictable weather. Competitors in this impressive fleet must be prepared, as the expected conditions will test their sailing preparations, inventories, strategies, patience, and resilience. The 606 nautical mile circular route is ready to fulfill its promise of varied wind angles and sea conditions. The entrants vary in length from 9.43 meters (31 feet) to 30.48 meters (100 feet), with crew experience levels ranging from novices to seasoned professionals. The overall winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, who will receive a prestigious trophy, will be determined using IRC Time Correction, emphasizing skill over size in this competition.
Key details include nearly 1,000 crew members from 42 nations spread across 112 yachts representing 30 countries. The oldest competitor is 80 years of age, while the youngest is 14. The oldest yacht in the race is Timothy Wilson’s Auzepy-Brenneur 68 El Oro, launched in 1974, and the newest is Wolf Scheder-Bieschin’s Judel/Vrolijk 43, Vineta, built in 2024. Seb Ripard and Daniel Calascione’s Farr 30 Calypso is the smallest vessel. In contrast, the largest yachts are Seng Huang Lee’s Scallywag 100 from Hong Kong and Remon Vos’s Black Jack 100. Although these yachts are debuting in their current configurations, they have a history with the race, having first competed in 2006 as Maximus and Alfa Romeo II, the latter taking line honors. Much has transpired since their initial participation.
Black Jack has changed ownership this year and comes into this event after securing line honors at the 243nm Giraglia and the 437nm Palermo – Monte Carlo, where it also set a new course record. Tristan Le Brun, the racing skipper, anticipates a rigorous challenge against a longer, more demanding route: “What makes the Rolex Middle Sea Race intriguing is the numerous transitions, and we know the wind will frequently shift in direction and strength. This adds excitement and difficulty to the race. Black Jack is ideal, as it performs well across varied conditions.” Between 2010 and 2014, when it was known as Esimit Europa 2, this 30.46m yacht won four consecutive line honors at this event. This year’s competition appears more formidable than during that period: “We have tough contenders this year, particularly Scallywag, which is similar to us and has assembled a highly competitive team. Lucky, also a canting keeler, can perform well in many conditions, as can Bullitt. We must keep an eye on these three boats and strive to lead!” For Scallywag, skippered by David Witt and a record-holder in the Hong Kong to Hainan race, the 2023 extensive refit, including a new mast and boom, will provide an opportunity to showcase its improved offshore capabilities.
Returning as last year’s overall champion, winning by a mere 24 seconds, Andrea Recordati’s 93ft Bullitt has reinforced its crew with seasoned ocean racer and weather router Marcel van Triest, along with Francesco ‘Checco’ Bruni from Luna Rossa, who has joined as port-side helm. “It may sound unbelievable for a sailor from Palermo,” Bruni stated, “but this will be my first Rolex Middle Sea Race. I’ll consult my brother Ganga, who has participated in many.” Lucky, known as the former five-time line honors winner Rambler 88 and a formidable contender in favorable winds, is now owned by Bryan Ehrhart, who has experienced the highs and lows of the race. A former overall champion in 2010 with a TP52, he faced a dismasting last year with his new vessel.
Despite forecasts predicting strong south winds for the start, prevailing conditions seem unstable enough to hinder attempts at the monohull race record of 40 hours, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, set in 2021. “The forecast differs significantly from recent years, featuring substantial winds, rain, scattered thunderstorms, and extensive calm areas,” warned Rolex Middle Sea Race Weather Forecaster Mike Broughton. “We are anticipating a low-pressure system crossing Sicily, accompanied by a frontal system before the race start, followed by a trough. The mountainous terrain of Sicily will create significant wind variations influenced by the land. As a result, the fleet will face numerous sail changes and reefing. Winds ranging from 3 to 33 knots can be expected in the initial 60 hours, making this a challenging and tiring race for all teams, from Maxis to double-handers.”
Bullitt’s navigator, van Triest, confirmed the challenging outlook: “A trough is approaching rapidly, making its timing critical. It has shifted over the past few days, but current predictions suggest it will arrive around 13:00 on Saturday. Whether it arrives an hour earlier or later will greatly impact our race. Ahead of the trough, we expect good winds, but once it passes, conditions may lighten. This is the crucial decision early on: will you manage to catch the advancing wave or not?”
To avoid a delayed start, the fleet is filled with experienced crews, including numerous past winners. Eric de Turckheim, returning to the site of his 2022 victory aboard his 54ft Teasing Machine from France, seeks to replicate his success. Meanwhile, Mitch Booth, who won with Comanche in 2021, has scaled down to join Franco Niggeler’s Swiss team on the Cookson 50 Kuka 3. Niggeler is a veteran of more than ten editions. “Two aspects stand out about this race. First, Malta is stunning; second, no other race presents such a diversity of meteorological challenges. It’s a fantastic race.” Stefan Jentzsch’s German Botin 56 Black Pearl, winner of this year’s Aegean 600, has invited Marc Lagesse, Bullitt’s winning navigator, back into its crew. Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, successful in 2011 and 2014, are competing again with Satariano’s latest vessel, the HH42 Artie. “Judging by the current forecast, we anticipate challenges during the first night,” Ripard observed. “The wind won’t be strong, yet rain and thunderstorms are forecast right along our intended route, potentially causing 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. French sailor Géry Trentesaux, helming the top boat in 2018, also returns, this time commanding a Sydney 43 Long Courrier.
Among the newcomers, the striking Maxi72 Balthasar will draw attention. Although the boat is new to this race, the crew is composed of seasoned offshore racing veterans, several of whom have prior experience in this event. Notable members include Stu Bannatyne, Louis Balcaen, and Pablo Arrate, in addition to Bouwe Bekking. Bekking shared his thoughts on the course ahead: “What is captivating about this race is its numerous turns and islands, providing ample opportunity to excel. Although you sail within your class, you compete against the entire fleet for the overall trophy. Every ship is a competitor, as highlighted by last year’s race. Simply put, you must excel.”
Steve Hayles is another experienced sailor participating in his first race aboard Alex Laing’s ICE52 Goose. “It’s hard to classify this as a big or small boat race. Every model is grappling with the timing of the low-pressure trough. Conditions are quite mixed and poorly defined, and its timing will significantly influence the initial hours. This promises to be a fascinating race, delivering the diverse conditions we often expect during the Rolex Middle Sea Race. It’s always a tough competition, which is why we continue coming back year after year!”
On the other end of the experience spectrum is Pippa Bartolo Parnis, sailing on the 35ft J/109 Jarhead, representing the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation (JYS). She is one of three youngest competitors participating in their inaugural Rolex Middle Sea Race. “I’m genuinely excited about the race! I’ve completed some shorter offshore challenges this year and adore the freedom that being at sea provides. I enjoy the team dynamics and feel at home aboard,” shared the 15-year-old Bartolo Parnis, who has played an active role in preparing the boat in recent weeks.
Participating in this race at a young age is a cherished tradition for many Maltese sailors. Christian Ripard embarked on his first race in 1976, also at the age of 15. He offered some wisdom to the young novices: “The Rolex Middle Sea Race can either be enjoyable or a real challenge—never underestimate the Mediterranean. Compete because you’re passionate and ambitious, and most importantly, sail with knowledgeable people!” Bartolo Parnis seems to be on a promising path. The JYS Foundation, based in Malta, provides aspiring ocean racers with the skills and resilience needed for such a demanding challenge. Many of its graduates are in this year’s competition, with Jarhead led by 25-year-old alumnus Gary Mercieca, who is participating for the fourth time. “Being with Gary is quite inspiring,” remarked Bartolo Parnis. “It demonstrates what I can achieve through hard work and continued learning.” For clarity, parental consent is a must for all participants under 18.
While the majority of the fleet will race for the overall prize determined by IRC time correction, there are various other incentives to perform well, including the fulfilling experience of completing one of the world’s classic 600-mile races. The Rolex Middle Sea Race kicks off the RORC Season’s Points Championship 2025, serves as the inaugural event in the International Maxi Association Mediterranean Offshore Challenge, and is part of the Swan Maxi Series. Additionally, there’s an ORC division, and Nautor Swan yachts are competing for a Mediterranean Challenge trophy. Double-handers also vie for line honors and class trophies, as do the local Maltese boats.
The final awards ceremony is set for Saturday, 26 October, with the start procedures beginning tomorrow morning marking the initial phase of an exciting journey. Although the weather remains unpredictable, what is certain is that a captivating array of stories will unfold throughout the week.
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