Intense head-to-head battles and an unpredictable Mediterranean: the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race lived up to all expectations. While Black Jack 100 dominated on elapsed time and Django 7X claimed the overall victory, the Swiss crews also made their mark on this edition …
Starting from Valletta on 17 October, 107 yachts carrying 945 sailors from 55 nationalities tackled the 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily. From the currents of the Strait of Messina to the fickle winds around Stromboli and the challenging conditions in the Strait of Sicily, the 47th edition delivered plenty of twists and turns.
At the front of the fleet, Black Jack 100 gave her rivals little chance. Remon Vos’s 30.48-metre maxi, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, completed the course in 2 days, 3 hours and 51 minutes, winning the elapsed-time race for the second consecutive year. It was a powerful display of speed and control, although Comanche’s outright record, set in 2021, remains out of reach – for now …
The real battle, however, unfolded on corrected time. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Wallyrocket 71 Django 7X and the Mills 72 Balthasar, winner in 2025, engaged in an exceptional duel over nearly 600 nautical miles. At Stromboli, they were separated by just 3 minutes and 36 seconds on corrected time. More comfortable in the stronger conditions south of Sicily, Django 7X eventually gained the upper hand to win the overall IRC ranking, ahead of Balthasar and Daguet 5.
Stella Nova: Switzerland at the top of the Class40 fleet
In the Class40 fleet, Stella Nova delivered one of the standout performances of the edition. Led by Louis Torreilles, the Swiss boat fought an intense battle against Optimus Prime, owned by former Olympic skiing champion Ivica Kostelić and skippered by Matic Vrečko. For several days, the two boats battled for the lead, with Flamingo Rosso constantly threatening from behind.
Everything was ultimately decided in the final hours. Thanks to an excellent reading of the weather transitions and remarkable consistency, Stella Nova held on to her advantage all the way to Malta, crossing the finish line just 55 minutes ahead of Optimus Prime. After more than 600 nautical miles, such a narrow margin makes this Swiss victory all the more impressive.
Kuka 4 and the Volvo 70s: further Swiss ambitions
For Franco Niggeler, this edition marked another step forward in the Kuka campaign. After finishing third overall in 2024 with Kuka 3, the sailor from Ticino entered his new MAT 1220, Kuka 4, designed by Mark Mills. Having already finished ninth in the Giraglia earlier this season, the crew confirmed its potential by taking fourth place in IRC 3, one of the most competitive classes.
Mathis Bourgnon’s participation as skipper aboard the Volvo 70 Ocean Breeze added another dimension to the Swiss challenge: sixth across the finish line – a great result! Another representative of this generation of ocean-racing yachts was Dinzer Doo, sailing under the American flag and skippered by Johannes Schwarz, rounding out a particularly strong fleet.
A race that remained undecided until the end
The other classes also delivered their share of close competition. Daguet 5 won IRC 2, Artie III took IRC 3, and Colombre put in a remarkable performance by winning IRC 6 and the double-handed division. Among the multihulls, Calamity secured victory despite mainsail problems in the final miles.
With 92 boats finishing and 15 retirements, this edition once again demonstrated why the Rolex Middle Sea Race remains a benchmark offshore sailing event.
Bring on next year!
More information: rolexmiddlesearace.com
