The 45th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race commenced from Valletta, the Maltese capital, earlier today.
An impressive international fleet of 112 yachts from 30 countries are contesting the revered annual 606-nautical mile (1,122 kilometres) race which comprises an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Sicily and counts the active volcanoes of Etna and Stromboli amongst its landmarks.
The fastest Maxi yachts – including Scallywag 100 and Black Jack 100 – have their sights set on line honours as first boat to finish. The current monohull race record is the benchmark of 40 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds set in 2021.
Awarded to the overall winner on corrected time the event’s most coveted prize is the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy. A number of former race winners feature in the 2024 fleet including last year’s victors Bullitt as well as Elusive 2 from Malta, triumphant in 2019 and in 2020.
Rolex has partnered both the race and its organizers, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, since 2002. The next Media Update will be dedicated to line honours following the arrival of the first boats back in Malta.
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A full photo archive of high-resolution images from the Rolex Middle Sea Race is available in the Rolex Newsroom.
