The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) announced on March 3, 2025 the publication of the Notice of Race (NOR) for the 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Scheduled to start on Saturday, October 18, 2025, this famous 606 nautical mile offshore race is now officially open for registration.
Renowned for its challenging and scenic route, the Rolex Middle Sea Race offers sailors a unique opportunity to sail on a circular course that starts and ends in Malta, encompassing an almost complete circumnavigation of Sicily. Participants will enjoy a diverse range of sailing conditions and breathtaking landscapes, including active volcanoes, narrow straits, and offshore passages.
Notice of Race – Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025
Starting from Valletta’s incomparable and historic Grand Harbour, the route will take competitors north into the Strait of Messina, offering the perspective of Mount Etna, then around the volcanic island of Stromboli, west along the northern coast of Sicily, before plunging south past the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa and back into the Maltese archipelago. This route not only tests sailing skills, but also offers a visual feast of the Mediterranean’s natural beauty.
“Set against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean landscape, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is unparalleled. With its challenging conditions, strategic complexity, and breathtaking scenery, it offers an unparalleled experience, circling one of the most beautiful and historic race tracks in the world.”
Continuing with enthusiasm, Commodore Napier added:
“Malta, with its warm hospitality and rich maritime heritage, is proud to be able to welcome a global fleet again. For its part, the Royal Malta Yacht Club looks forward to seeing new and well-known competitors at the start line in October and sharing the competitive spirit that defines this legendary race.”
Memorable – 2024 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race
The 2024 edition was one of the most memorable so far. Underpinned by true evidence of camaraderie and team spirit, the dominant story was one of overcoming adversity and endurance.
The remarkable fleet of 112 yachts from 30 countries included vessels from the 30.5-metre/100-foot Maxis Scallywag 100 from Hong Kong and the Blackjack 100 from Europe to the 9.43-metre/30-foot Calypso from Malta.
The competition was fierce, culminating in Red Bandit, the German 15.85 m/52 ft crew of Carl-Peter Forster, who took the overall victory in the IRC Time Correction. The crew was made up almost entirely of sailors under the age of 30, and the team’s success was largely due to the desire of Forster and the only professional on board, Jesper Radich, to encourage and grow such a crew.
It was also a testament to the crew’s passion for the sport, their desire to improve, and their overwhelmingly dynamic spirit. This impressive character made Red Bandit keep up during a difficult race, which mixed light winds with strong winds and rough seas with flat calm.
The Rolex Middle Sea 2025 race is open to both monohull and multihull sailboats and always attracts a diverse mix of professional and amateur crews, both full and double crew, from racing boats to cruisers.
The race offers both competition and adventure, so it caters to both the experienced and the less well-versed in offshore racing. The main monohull awards are given to yachts classified in the IRC, with an ORC division also available. Multihulls compete under the MOCRA rating system, and one design classes, such as the Class40s, are welcome.
Attractive to a wide spectrum of surfers
The race has a significant position in the international community of sailing enthusiasts, being part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Season Points Championship, the Maxi International Association’s Mediterranean Offshore Championship and Nautor Swan’s Maxi Series. These affiliations highlight the status of the race and its attractiveness to a wide spectrum of sailors around the world.
A new World Championship in September Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
In line with its commitment to providing the best possible experience, as well as the highest standards of race organisation and safety, RMYC continues its collaboration with the RORC, which provides valuable support to the RMYC race management team. In addition, Herman “Mufti” Kling will once again lead the international jury, with many members working remotely to reduce the event’s environmental footprint.
Sustainability remains a key objective for RMYC. The BICREF Trophy will be awarded to the crew that presents the best photographic or video evidence of dolphin or whale watching during the race.
A trophy for the best photos
This initiative, in partnership with the Biological Conservation Research Foundation, contributes valuable scientific data on vulnerable cetacean species in the Mediterranean. In addition, RMYC collaborates with Żibel, a Maltese non-profit organization dedicated to marine conservation, to implement effective waste management practices and promote environmental awareness among participants.
In addition to the long-standing and welcome support of lead partner Rolex, RMYC also relies on partnerships with Yachting Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta and the Malta Armed Forces.
The Notice of Race and the online registration system are now accessible through the Official Online Notice Board.
Competitors are encouraged to submit their applications quickly to secure their preferred berth and berth. RMYC looks forward to welcoming the fleet to Malta in October 2025, continuing the tradition of this extraordinary race.
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