107 yachts carrying 945 sailors representing 55 countries set sail Saturday in the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race from Malta’s magnificent Grand Harbour.
The most dramatic start of the morning was the final start with defending overall champion Balthasar, the Mills 72 skippered by Louis Balcaen, nailing the start close to the Saluting Battery, before being immediately challenged by the imposing Black Jack 100 starting from a more central position.
Balthasar eventually tacked close to the bastions and ducked behind Black Jack 100, straight into a close encounter with Django 7X, skippered by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. The leading contenders locked into a highly anticipated battle well before they had even cleared Grand Harbour.
At just after 16:00 CEST Saturday, Black Jack 100 was first past Capo Passero on the southeastern tip of Sicily, holding a two-nautical-mile lead over Johnny Vincent’s Volvo 70 Pace. Behind them, Django 7X and Balthasar were racing side by side, still within sight of the leading pair.
Latest leading positions Sunday 11:15 GMT
1st Blackjack DTF 350 NM
2nd Balthasar DTF 366 NM
3rd Django 7X DTF 366 NM
4th Pace DTF 380 NM
5th Wild Joe DTF 380 NM
6th Artemis Blue DTF 380 NM
7th JaJo
8th Wind Whisper
9th Cippa Lippa X
10th Daguet 5