Valletta, Malta – 07 April 2026 — With six months to go before its spectacular start in Grand Harbour, the 47th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race has already attracted a positive burst of entries. A solid mix of old and new, experienced and first-timers, adventurers and more serious competitors is looking forward to crossing the start line on Saturday, 17 October. Early highlights include the German TP52 Red Bandit, the overall winner in 2024, a pair of Volvo 65s, Team Jajo and Sisi, and Ponce, a double-handed entry from Finland. The organising authority, the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC), is confident that this early showing is indicative of another talented, diverse fleet.
Over the past 25 years the renowned 606 nautical mile offshore race has consistently drawn remarkable fleets, as deep in passion and commitment as they are wide in size of yacht and proficiency of crew. The spectacular course that starts and finishes in Malta takes participants on a circular passage that demands proper preparation, tactical nous and determination just to complete. The rewards are clear, according to RMYC Commodore Mark Napier: “Beyond the trophies that go to the most skilled crews, the remarkable scenery encountered on the route never disappoints. Two live volcanoes, narrow straits and a myriad of islands offer vistas matched by few other offshore races. The island archipelago of Malta is located at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean, and delivers a compelling fusion of history, culture and welcome to the participants both before and after the race. Of course, at the centre lies our supremely convivial Club, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race is the highlight of our year-round calendar of races and regattas.” It is quite simply a must-do race.
Red Bandit Reckoning
Hugely popular winners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race trophy under IRC Time Correction in 2024, the predominantly young German crew on Red Bandit experienced a true low in 2025, that would have stopped many others in their tracks. Having planned to end their season defending the hard-won title, the Red Bandit crew suffered a broken mast during the Admiral’s Cup. Rather than concede this was the end to their racing, with the support of another German boat owner, the team was able to enter a chartered yacht and complete their season. For Moriz Forster, one of the key drivers behind the project, the reasons are clear why they pushed hard to compete last year and have entered again this year:
“The Rolex Middle Sea Race is an awesome event. It is an amazing opportunity to compete offshore in the late Autumn in Europe. It is one final ride. Just because we have won the race overall, it does not mean that we do not want or need to do it again. We don’t think too much about having won. The course is so incredible, so too is the competition and we have never had an easy year. Malta, too, is a special place to start and to finish. We love the old city of Valletta and the start in Grand Harbour.”
“The race is one of the most popular and biggest in the Mediterranean, you can feel from the level of competition how important it is. There is always strong competition with many in the fleet preparing hard and having the same goals as us, which is to do well. The broad spectrum of boats from Maxis down to 30 and 35-footers, all setting out on the same course just heightens the level of anticipation and excitement. I don’t think there’s a more beautiful course in the world.”
Since 2020, Red Bandit, owned by Carl-Peter Forster, has operated under the specific remit to encourage the transition of young sailors into offshore programmes. “In terms of the crew, we try to keep the average age under 27,” confirms Forster. “We like to introduce new crew, and each year open up for applications from both male and female sailors. We are on the lookout for good dinghy sailors, rather than people with offshore experience, essentially raw talent. The process of choosing people is fair and even, and based on talent and ability. We do not care about background, or gender. We care whether individuals will fit within the dynamic of the crew.”
Forster says he never tires of the race. He has experienced all weathers, all sea states, and it is never dull. Even having raced the course several times, he believes there is always the opportunity to improve and to take something from the experience:
“In sailing, like any sport, you always want to be better than you were, to prove to yourself that you can make things better and do better. That brings us back. Take Messina as an example. It is the most interesting place of all for me, and every time it sets new challenges. It takes any number of times to get it right, and perhaps it’s impossible to master, but we try. We also have a lot of nostalgia for the race. This is the event that brought the project to life in the first place. It is like going back to our roots and it is a really good way to finish the season. Last year, for example, was really important, having lost our mast not to end the season with that being the defining moment.”
Old Friends, New Adventure
The Volvo 65 Sisi operated by Austrian Ocean Racing is a frequent and notable competitor in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Originally built for the Volvo Ocean Race where the yacht competed as Team Alvimedica in 2014/15 and as Vestas 11th Hour Racing in 2017/18, Sisi made her debut in Malta in 2019, completing the course in three days, 20 hours coming in 10th across the line in the 120 boat fleet. This year, Sisi has been chartered by a crew led by Ineke van der Weijden. Van de Weijden has the distinction of competing in the Clipper Race three times, as crew, first mate and finally as a skipper.
“The team is actually the crew of Perseverance, the boat I skippered on the Clipper Race 2023/24 edition,” she explains. “We had such an amazing year going around the world, that last year a bunch of us decided to do the Rolex Fastnet together. We did it on a Clipper 68. We had so much fun and loved being out on the water together again, so we said we would find another race. It was quickly decided this would be the Rolex Middle Sea Race, as it has such an excellent reputation on the circuit of Rolex offshore races. We also decided to up the stakes a bit and go for a serious racing boat this time.”
Although this will be the first time van der Weijden has taken on the Rolex Middle Sea Race, she is no stranger to offshore sailing as evidenced by her round the world racing, but she has been many other places too: “Since the Clipper, I have been sailing up in the Arctic, on transatlantic crossings and this summer I will be sailing up in Greenland. I have also had the chance to do the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Fastnet races and now it is time for another iconic one: the Rolex Middle Sea Race. This will be my first time doing this race, and my first time to Malta. I am very excited about both, as well as about the fact we will be doing it on Sisi, an iconic Volvo 65.”
“What interests me about the Rolex Middle Sea Race is that it is an offshore race – what can I say, after all those miles around the globe I still haven’t had enough – with a great reputation. An interesting, tactically challenging route in a part of the world I do not know that well yet. I have done remarkably little sailing in the Med. This seems like a great place to start. And as we will be there for almost two weeks, I certainly hope to see some of Malta as well. I have heard great stories about its history and people. And weather!”
Van der Weijden has confidence in her crew despite the twin challenges of a new race and a new boat: “We are all super excited about the whole adventure! We have a team of 15 from 10 different countries and each individual with their own unique story on how they made it into offshore sailing. We have people that are excellent racers and tacticians, with years of experience. And people that started sailing relatively recently and do it more for the adventure of it. But all have a significant number of offshore miles by now, and it will be great to test ourselves on a boat that is technically so much more challenging. We can’t wait to push ourselves and see what we can do.”
Bucket List Opportunity with Extras
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is often referred to as a ‘bucket list’ race. The Mediterranean’s answer to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, and the Rolex Fastnet. This is the case for the double-handed crew of Ponce, a brand-new Beneteau First 36SE from Finland. “2026 will be the first Rolex Middle Sea Race for both of us,” says Kim Jääskeläinen, one half of the intrepid duo with team mate Turo Nummi. “This is a bucket list race for us and our new boat is perfectly made for it. We like the challenge of offshore races, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race is known to attract the best boats and best sailors to the beautiful Island of Malta. This is something we want to be part of.”
“One of the most anticipated moments is the start of the race in the iconic Grand Harbour. Of course, other parts of the race are also eagerly waited, such as the Messina Strait, Stromboli and Lampedusa, not to mention the opportunity to get to know Malta.”
The Finnish pair have accumulated quite a bit of experience over the years as well as some success. Both aspects will stand the team in good stead as they prepare for this new test.
“We have both sailed lots of different fully-crewed boats and the 2026 season is our fourth year together as a Double Handed team. Last year in 2025, we won our class at the ORC Double-Handed European Championship in our home waters of Helsinki. Finishing a long offshore race is real endorphin releasing moment. It is the point when tiredness, long hours and short naps are rewarded with good feelings and a cold beer! Our plan is to train and race in Adriatic during the season. The First 36SE is new boat for us and we can’t wait to see her full potential out on the race course.”
The next six months will see more and more stories develop as the entry list builds. Sign up for the newsletter or follow the Rolex Middle Sea Race build up through our social media channels to stay up to date. And if you want to be part of the great adventure, there is still plenty of time to enter.
The Rolex Middle Sea Race forms part of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the International Maxi Association (IMA) Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Championship and the Class40 Mediterranean Trophy 2026. For those interesting in joining, the Notice of Race and the online entry system are accessible through the official Rolex Middle Sea Race website . Competitors are encouraged to submit their applications promptly to secure their place and preferred berthing.
The RMYC looks forward to welcoming the fleet to Malta in October 2026, continuing the proud tradition of this extraordinary race.
For more information and to register, please visit the official Rolex Middle Sea Race website: https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/