The 46th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race has concluded in a grand style, with the overall winner being the Mills 72 Balthasar, led by Louis Balcaen. This prestigious offshore yacht race, which started on October 18, 2025, from the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta, saw 117 participating yachts, with 110 successfully completing the 606-nautical mile course. The event, which is considered one of the most beautiful and challenging races in the world, took the fleet on an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily, leaving Pantelleria and Lampedusa to the left, before cutting the finish line under the ancient walls of Marsamxett Harbour.
The 2025 edition was marked by light and shifting winds, testing the patience and strategy of the competitors. The winner, Balthasar, secured the overall win under IRC time correction with a corrected time of 4 days, 17 hours, 20 minutes, and 41 seconds. The monohull line honours went to Remon Vos’ Black Jack 100, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, which crossed the finish line at 05:44:07 CEST on Tuesday, October 21, finishing with a time of 2 days, 17 hours, 44 minutes, and 7 seconds.
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is not just a test of sailing skills, but also a showcase of teamwork, precision, and a little bit of luck. The event attracts a diverse international fleet, with 31 countries represented, including Australia, New Zealand, and China. Italy had the largest fleet, with 22 yachts, followed by France with 17 competitors, and Malta with 16 yachts. The next edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is scheduled to start on October 17, 2026.
