Round Sicily in 606 miles, starting and finishing in Malta.
Sailed since 1968 and organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the race leaves Valletta's Grand Harbour every October. It heads up Sicily's east coast, through the Strait of Messina, round the Stromboli volcano, along the north coast to the Egadi Islands, then back south via Pantelleria and Lampedusa before returning to Malta. The Mediterranean's shifting winds make it a highly tactical race. The Wallyrocket 71 Django 7x won in 2026, after the Mills 72 Balthasar in 2025 and the TP52 Red Bandit in 2024.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, Django 7x (Wallyrocket 71) |
| 2025 | Louis Balcaen, Balthasar (Maxi 72) |
| 2024 | Carl-Peter Forster, Red Bandit (TP52) |
| 2023 | Andrea Recordati, Bullitt |
| 2022 | Éric de Turckheim, Teasing Machine (NMD 54) |
| 2021 | Mitch Booth, Comanche |
| 2020 | Christoph Podesta, Elusive 2 |
| 2019 | Christoph Podesta, Elusive 2 |
| 2018 | Géry Trentesaux, Courrier Recommandé |
| 2017 | Igor Rytov, Bogatyr |
| 2016 | Vincenzo Onorato, Mascalzone Latino |
| 2015 | Michele Galli, B2 (TP52) |
| 2014 | Lee Satariano, Artie (J/122) |
| 2013 | Michele Galli, B2 (TP52) |
| 2012 | Eddie De Villiers, Hi Fidelity |
| 2011 | Lee Satariano, Artie (J/122) |
| 2010 | Bryon Ehrhart, Lucky |
| 2009 | Andres Soriano, Alegre |
| 2008 | Thierry Bouchard, Spirit of Ad Hoc |
| 2007 | George David, Rambler |
| 1968 | John Ripard Sr, Josian (Swan 36) |
The race was born in 1968 from the idea of two Britons living in Malta, Alan Green and Jimmy White, and the Maltese Paul and John Ripard. Eight boats took the first start, and John Ripard Sr's Swan 36 Josian won. The Royal Malta Yacht Club runs it, with the Royal Ocean Racing Club as its long-standing partner. It was not sailed from 1984 to 1995, and has been held every year since.
The start is in Valletta's Grand Harbour. The fleet heads north to Capo Passero, goes through the Strait of Messina, passes the Stromboli volcano, follows the north coast of Sicily to the Egadi Islands, then turns south to Pantelleria and Lampedusa before returning to Malta. Shifting winds, calms under the coast and thunderstorms make its reputation.
The overall prize is decided on IRC corrected time, and margins can be tiny: 9 seconds between B2 and Mascalzone Latino in 2015, 24 seconds between Bullitt and Red Ruby in 2023. Maltese boats have often shone, up to the Podesta family's Elusive 2 winning twice in a row in 2019 and 2020. In 2026, 107 boats and 945 sailors from 55 countries started.
The next start is scheduled for October 2027 in Valletta. The date is still to be confirmed by the organiser.
The theoretical course is 606 nautical miles, starting and finishing in Valletta.
1d 9h 29m 28s, set by Jason Carroll on Argo in 2021.
Giovanni Lombardi Stronati on Django 7x, in 2026.
Classes on the start line: IRC, ORCi, MOCRA, Class40.
Every year.
Alan Green and Jimmy White, two Britons living in Malta, with the Maltese Paul and John Ripard, in 1968. The Royal Malta Yacht Club has run the race ever since, with the RORC.
The Strait of Messina and its currents, the Stromboli volcano, the Egadi Islands off western Sicily, then Pantelleria and Lampedusa before the return to Malta.
107 in 2026. The record is 130 boats from 29 countries, in 2018, for the race's 50th year. The fleet first passed the hundred mark in 2014, with 122 starters.
Not always. On corrected time, B2 beat Mascalzone Latino by 9 seconds in 2015, and Bullitt finished 24 seconds ahead of Red Ruby in 2023.
Indicative course: the actual route depends on the weather. Figures taken from the sources below.
Courses au large · Offshore Races · Offshore Races · Offshore Races · Offshore Races