The 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 17 October 2026 from Grand Harbour, organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
Its anti-clockwise 606-nautical-mile course takes competitors from Grand Harbour in Valletta through the Strait of Messina, around the volcanic island of Stromboli and past the Aeolian and Aegadian archipelagos, before returning to Malta via the isolated outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa.
Before Saturday’s main event, the Yachting Malta Coastal Race got underway on schedule on Wednesday 14 October, with a 30-nautical-mile course starting from Marsamxett Harbour, rounding Comino and returning to Marsamxett.
Filip Balcaen’s Mills 72 Balthasar, with Bouwe Bekking as tactician, claimed both line honours and the overall win under IRC, powering upwind at over 10 knots and touching 20 knots off the breeze.
The overall podium also formed the top three in IRC Class 2/3: Balthasar ahead of Artemis Bleu with Arkas Blue Moon third. Michal Krysta’s Class40 Moonpalace was the sole boat to race in IRC Class 3, completing the course in 4 hours 2 minutes 58 seconds.
Maya Podesta steered the family-owned Elusive 2 to victory in IRC Class 4, and the honour of top Maltese boat.
Sebastian Ripard and Daniel Calascione took victory in IRC Class 5 aboard Maltese Farr 30 Calypso.
Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele’s Reflex 38 Vivace won IRC Class .
Full race results: Yachting Malta Coastal Race – Official Results