Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025

The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) organises the race together with Rolex, which has been a partner since 2002. The 46th edition of the race starts on Saturday, 18 October 2025, from the Grand Harbour in Valletta, which is the most famous harbour in Malta. Cannons will be fired to announce the start of an extraordinary maritime challenge that attracts great sailors as well as extremely enthusiastic amateurs. The participants pursue no less a goal than the same peak of excellence.

A Course of Contrasts

The Rolex Middle Sea Race has no rivals. Its almost circular route around Sicily is a real test for the competitors in the fields of seamanship, tactics, and endurance. The race with the start and finish in Malta leads competitors past some of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular places—the active volcano of Stromboli, the mighty Mount Etna, the pristine Aeolian and Aegadian Islands, and the secluded islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, which are more African than European.

Such a complicated scenario results in geographical features that change with the course of the race. The Mediterranean with its cruising areas can start with a serene outlook and in no time become a maniacal surface with the violent squalls. Sailors have to learn not only to navigate the narrow tidal straits and sail through the open waters but also to participate in tactical duels that never cease as each team tests its human and technical limits. Therefore, the race is thought of as one of the best among the offshore yacht races in the world.

As Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, a three-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year, described after his record-setting 2021 campaign:

“The Rolex Middle Sea Race may be one of the most beautiful courses, but it is also one of the most complex. It has everything – narrow tidal straits, open-water legs, light airs, strong breezes, high mountains and islands. The variety is relentless.”

Slingsby’s fantastic 2021 result — taking monohull line and overall win, plus the course record — is still one of the cornerstones of Rolex yacht race history.

The Human Element

The race, although presenting the best in sailing skills, is also an extremely difficult human experience. Crews over two to five days, and sometimes more, have to endure tiredness, wild weather, and the loneliness of the ocean. Eating is little, sleeping is seldom, and cooperation becomes the main factor of living through and winning the race.

As five-time Olympic medallist and Rolex testimonee Robert Scheidt puts it:

“If you want to experience offshore sailing at its finest, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a must-do race. It can be tough, and it can be brutal. When you cross the finish line, whatever the result, you know you have completed something special.”

The unifying and overcome-with-great-spirit attitude of the participants characterises the competition. There are no outside helpers, no pause to regroup, and no second tries — only faith, artistry, and fortitude.

Fleet Highlights and Top Contenders

The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race fleet is going to be very strong and will probably be one of the strongest ever. The Red Bandit, the overall winner of 2024, is coming back to hold the title. The 100-foot Black Jack, on its way from the Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 line to honour victory, is ready to battle it out for the win. And among them is the legendary Stormvogel, a yacht that joined the very first race in 1968, thus bridging the connection between the event’s past glory and its vibrant present.

According to RMYC Commodore Mark Napier,

“Each year, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is proud to welcome sailors from around the world—from elite professionals to the most intrepid Corinthians. Since our partnership with Rolex began, the Middle Sea Race has grown in prestige and global recognition, becoming a symbol of endurance and excellence.”

The Coveted Trophy

The Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy, given to the overall winner on corrected time, is what the course finishes with. The winners, besides the trophy, get a Rolex watch with their name engraved on it – a reward that not only commemorates victory but also celebrates human accomplishment in a timeless way.

In the past few years, the likes of Elusive 2, Red Bandit, Courrier Recommandé, and Bullitt have been some of the winners who validated the race’s diverse and unpredictable character – it is a testament that winning the offshore yacht race Malta requires both good tactics and a strong character.

For those who are not at the venue, the Rolex Middle Sea Race live tracking provides a chance for the followers to see how the fleet is moving through every stage of the trip, and thus this gives them a glimpse of one of the most exciting Mediterranean offshore racing events.

How to participate in the Rolex Middle Sea Race

Monohulls and multihulls that comply with the offshore racing safety standards are the only ones allowed to participate in the Rolex Middle Sea Race Malta. Sailors sign up through the Royal Malta Yacht Club, which offers extensive assistance on the eligibility, transportation, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race course map. Whether participating in the competition or just watching, the event will take place in Malta and will be the highlight of the 2025 sailing events calendar.

Rolex and Yachting: A Shared Legacy

Rolex and yachting share a strong and continuous connection. Rolex has been associated with the most prestigious sailing institutions and events since the late 1950s — marking the triumph of the human spirit, precision, and passion at sea. In fact, Rolex is the title sponsor of 15 major international sailing events beyond the Middle Sea Race, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Rolex TP52 World Championship, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, and the Rolex SailGP Championship, where the world’s best sailors compete on the latest foiling catamarans.

The brand’s family of sailing champions includes not only living legends such as Sir Ben Ainslie, Paul Cayard, Martine Grael, and Hannah Mills, but also the very same values of adaptability and excellence that Rolex has historically been associated with.

The Essence of Offshore Adventure

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 is more than a competition; it is a journey — a battle between human will and the unpredictability of nature. The real victory is not only in crossing the finish line but also in surviving and experiencing the moments of chaos, exhaustion, and victory that are the hallmark of this offshore racing adventure.

As the sails soar over the historical bastions of Valletta this October, they will embody Rolex’s philosophy — relentless struggle for perfection. Moreover, for every sailor who responds to the sea’s invitation, the Rolex Middle Sea Race will again serve as the ultimate examination of endurance, camaraderie, and spirit.