The Rolex Middle Sea Race offers a rare combination: an extraordinary setting and a challenge that demands everything from those who take it on. For more than half a century, sailors have been drawn to the 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily.

Without doubt the remarkable scenery is a major attraction, but more significant is the unpredictability of the experience. Starting on Saturday, 17 October in Malta, the 47th edition features an impressive diversity of yachts and crews, united by the ambition to complete one of offshore sailing’s most celebrated tests.

When the race was established in 1968, the founders’ intention was to map a course that would bear comparison with the other great offshore contests, notably the Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, not just in length but in the examination of skill, resolve and preparedness.

Rolex Middle Sea Race © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

A presence in yachting worldwide for almost 70 years, Rolex has supported many elements of the sport, from trailblazing exploration to renowned regattas and prestigious yacht clubs. Its partnerships within the offshore discipline began a quarter of a century ago, and the brand holds in high regard the challenges that inspire participants and offer a sense of accomplishment once completed.

Rolex Middle Sea Race – 2023 – Pyewacket 70 – VO 70 Mod – Skipper: Roy Disney – USA © Kurt Arrigo

Rolex Testimonee and Whitbread Round the World Race winner Paul Cayard has spent many years competing at the highest level. He sees a natural connection between the Swiss watchmaker and offshore racing:

“Rolex is a huge supporter of the heart and soul of sailing. There is an alignment of DNA with the institutions that organize these distance races. Rolex’s presence enhances the sport through its appreciation of core values such as determination, excellence and resilience. Alongside the clubs and events, Rolex also supports those devoted to protecting the oceans, like Sylvia Earle the pioneering oceanographer. It is truly connected with our sport and the values embedded within it.”

Rolex Middle Sea Race – photo © Kurt Arrigo

The race is organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, and Rolex has been Title Sponsor since 2002. Its anti-clockwise course takes competitors from Grand Harbour in Valletta through the Strait of Messina, around the volcanic island of Stromboli and past the Aeolian and Aegadian archipelagos, before returning to Malta via the isolated outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. Although the route follows the same path, each edition sets a complex puzzle.

Rolex Middle Sea Race – photo © Rolex / Studio Borlenghi

No two races ever unfold in the same way. The prevailing wind varies from year to year, and conditions can change dramatically, requiring constant adaptation, precise navigation and close teamwork. For the crews, achievement is measured not simply by the result but by how they respond to the shifting circumstances and perform throughout. Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, a three-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year, made his debut in 2021, securing monohull line honours, overall winner and a new course record. It left a lasting impression, and is an experience he would like to repeat:

Rolex Middle Sea Race – photo © Rolex / RMYC

“The Rolex Middle Sea Race is such a beautiful event, starting in Malta and taking us around so many islands. It was unbelievable to see active volcanoes in the middle of the night. We enjoyed an amazing weather system, which we tracked perfectly, and beat the previous record by seven hours. It might sound easy, but it was physically and mentally tough to maintain such a high level of performance for so long. We had a great team and, for sure, I would like to do it again in the future.”

The timing of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is deliberate. In the central Mediterranean in October, competitors frequently meet both punishing winds and brutal seas, and periods of benign calm. For the fastest boats, finishing within 48 hours is considered an exceptional run. Most of the fleet will take between three and six days, sailing out of sight of land for long periods. Carefully managing resources, both human and physical, is crucial. The demands on crew and equipment are constant and draining. The foundation for successfully completing the course is laid many months in advance, during the hours dedicated to training, maintenance and optimization.

Rolex Middle Sea Race – photo © Kurt Arrigo

A past competitor at all three of Rolex’s most renowned blue water races, Cayard is a great admirer of this element of sailing and what it offers to competitors as individuals and as part of a team:

“At events like the Rolex Middle Sea Race, it does not matter how experienced you are or what you have won previously. Each edition is a new experience. There is an honesty or purity that comes with that – either you match up or you do not. Whether you win or lose, these races are an opportunity to learn valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience and dealing with constant change.”

Rolex Middle Sea Race – photo © Luca Butto

The challenge of the open sea is perpetual and so too, it seems, is the attraction of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Fortunately, the length and strength of the partnership between the Title Sponsor and the Royal Malta Yacht Club will ensure many future opportunities for those inspired to test themselves.

by Quinag