Shifting Fortunes in the Rolex Middle Sea Race

The past 24 hours have tested every crew in the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race, as light and unpredictable winds continue to dominate conditions across the course. All yachts have now cleared the Messina Strait, with the final pair — Mowgli of Portsmouth and Sao Jorge — exiting around lunchtime today. Yet, only two boats have so far rounded Favignana, on the northwest corner of the course.

At the front of the fleet, Black Jack 100, the line honours favourite, has managed to maintain a lead of around 50 nautical miles over Balthasar, but progress has been painfully slow. Her estimated time of arrival in Malta has steadily drifted from Tuesday morning to later in the day, as every position report brings fresh delays. A westerly breeze is forecast, but when it will arrive — and how strong it will be — remains uncertain.

Light Winds Test the Leaders

In IRC 1, Black Jack 100 reached Favignana at 23:13 CEST on Sunday night, around five hours ahead of Balthasar. The sleek black maxi initially made good speed down to Pantelleria, clocking over 10 knots, but progress then stalled — only 30 miles were gained by mid-morning.

Balthasar, meanwhile, took a bold route west of the rhumb line toward the African coast and found fresher breeze. As of this afternoon, the Maltese Mills 72 was just passing Pantelleria, closing the gap slightly as the wind finally filled in for Black Jack. Skipper Remon Vos and his crew will be relieved to see their hard work holding up against the whims of the Mediterranean.

Further back, Daguet 5 in IRC 2 is leading the chase toward Favignana, though Whisper and Django Deer are closing in at around 10 knots. The French team have been pushing hard to defend their lead, but the wind may soon level the playing field once again.

From the Finnish Infiniti 52 Tulikettu, skipper Arto Linnervuo described the relentless effort required:

“It’s really hot and we’re hopping from one tiny breeze patch to the next. The crew is constantly moving weight around — leeward, windward, back again. You think you see breeze, and then it disappears like an oasis in the desert. Still, everyone is focused and motivated.”

Turkey’s TP52 Arkas Blue Moon also reported a challenging race so far. Martin Watts said:

“We spent the first night dragging a bundle of rope, plastic, and even crustaceans around the keel. Once we cleared it at dawn, we had a great run through Messina and up to Stromboli. But last night was tough — very shifty, very patchy. Now we’ve hit another light zone off northwest Sicily. My love–hate relationship with this race continues!”

Mid-Fleet Battles

Midway between Strombolicchio and Favignana, IRC 3 and 4 yachts remain tightly grouped, most sailing north of the rhumb line. Soleag of France and Hydra from the USA ventured furthest north, near Ustica, but the move seems to have cost them time. Hydra has slipped off the provisional podium, replaced by Maltese entry Artie III.

Aboat Time (Bulgaria) continues to lead IRC 3 on corrected time, though the Italian ClubSwan 42 BeWild in IRC 4 has gained ground overnight, taking advantage of fresher patches of wind.

In IRC 5 and 6, the light-air compression has drawn the fleet closer together. British entry Zephyr (IRC 6) continues to punch above its weight, mixing it with faster boats from higher classes. In IRC 5, Mon Ile and Elusive 2 remain locked in a fierce duel, trading the lead with every shift in the breeze.

A Race of Patience

At the smaller end of the fleet, the Farr 30 Calypso from Malta, skippered by Seb Ripard, continues its determined push west:

“It’s been a slow but beautiful 24 hours. Being the smallest boat in the fleet, patience is part of the game. We’ve taken a more inshore route hoping for sea breeze, while others stayed offshore — whether it pays off, we’ll see. But for us, it’s about racing hard together and loving every mile of this incredible race.”

Waiting for the Wind

With just two boats around Favignana, the vast majority of the fleet is still creeping along the north coast of Sicily, caught in a meteorological dead zone. To the east, a northerly gradient dominates; to the west, a southerly flow builds — cancelling each other out over northern Sicily.

By early Tuesday, a new south-westerly is expected to reach boats near Favignana, offering long-awaited relief — and perhaps a dramatic reshuffling of fortunes across the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Gerald Fenech

Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist