--- title: "Rolex Middle Sea Race 2027: course, start and record" description: "Next start from Valletta: October 2027. Round Sicily in 606 miles, starting and finishing in Malta. Course on a 3D globe, race record and past winners." url: "https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/rolex-middle-sea-race" lang: "en" --- [Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en) # Rolex Middle Sea Race 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. - **Start**: Valletta - **Finish**: Valletta - **Theoretical distance**: 606 nm - **Frequency**: Every year - **Classes**: IRC, ORCi, MOCRA, Class40 - **Next start**: October 2027 (to be confirmed) - **Record**: 1d 9h 29m 28s · Jason Carroll, Argo (MOD70), 2021 - **Official website**: [rolexmiddlesearace.com](https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/) ## In numbers - **1968** first race, eight boats on the start line - **606** miles around Sicily, starting and finishing in Malta - **1d 9h** for the race record, the MOD70 trimaran Argo in 2021 - **1d 16h** for the monohull record, Comanche in 2021 - **130** starters in 2018, the record fleet - **47** editions sailed up to 2026 ## Roll of honour | 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) | ## History 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. ## Records - **Race record**: Argo (MOD70), Jason Carroll, 1d 9h 29m 28s in 2021. - **Monohull record**: Comanche, Mitch Booth, 1d 16h 17m 50s in 2021. - **Previous monohull record**: Rambler, George David, 1d 23h 55m 3s in 2007. ## At a glance: frequently asked questions ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: when is the next start? The next start is scheduled for October 2027 in Valletta. The date is still to be confirmed by the organiser. ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: how long is the course? The theoretical course is 606 nautical miles, starting and finishing in Valletta. ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: what is the record? 1d 9h 29m 28s, set by Jason Carroll on Argo in 2021. ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: who won the last edition? Giovanni Lombardi Stronati on Django 7x, in 2026. ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: which boats take the start? Classes on the start line: IRC, ORCi, MOCRA, Class40. ### Rolex Middle Sea Race: how often is the race held? Every year. ### Who created the Middle Sea Race? 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. ### What are the key passages of the course? 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. ### How many boats start? 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. ### Does the winner win by much? 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. ## Sources - [yacht.de/en/regatta/races/rolex-middle-sea-race-django-7x-wins-the-race-round-sicily/](https://www.yacht.de/en/regatta/races/rolex-middle-sea-race-django-7x-wins-the-race-round-sicily/) - [sail-world.com/news/291145/Balthasar-Triumphs-in-2025-Rolex-Middle-Sea-Race](https://www.sail-world.com/news/291145/Balthasar-Triumphs-in-2025-Rolex-Middle-Sea-Race) - [rorc.org/red-bandit-wins-rolex-middle-sea-race](https://rorc.org/red-bandit-wins-rolex-middle-sea-race) - [rolexmiddlesearace.com](https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/) - [rolexmiddlesearace.com/roll-of-honour/](https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/roll-of-honour/) Updated November 11, 2026 - [2027 offshore sailing race calendar](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/calendar/2027) - [IRC offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/irc) - [ORCi offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/orci) - [MOCRA offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/mocra) - [Class40 offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/class40) - [Éric de Turckheim: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/eric-de-turckheim) - [Mitch Booth: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/mitch-booth) - [Christoph Podesta: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/christoph-podesta) - [Géry Trentesaux: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/gery-trentesaux) - [Michele Galli: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/michele-galli) - [Lee Satariano: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/lee-satariano) - [George David: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/george-david) - [Jason Carroll: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/jason-carroll) ## Races - [Arkéa Ultim Challenge](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/arkea-ultim-challenge) - 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