Django 7x secures the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race

Valletta, Malta: Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's wallyrocket 71 Django 7x has been declared overall winner of the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race, claiming one of offshore sailing's most coveted trophies after an outstanding performance around the 606-nautical-mile course. At 11:30 CEST today, the Royal Malta Yacht Club confirmed that none of the yachts still racing could better Django 7x's IRC-corrected time.

The Italian team's victory followed an extraordinary contest with defending champion Balthasar, the two boats racing in close company for much of the course before Django 7x finished 39 minutes ahead of her rival. “Winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race means a great deal to us,” said Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. “It is a very important race. Last year we won our class in IRC 2, and this year we have won overall, racing in IRC 1. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and I am especially proud of our crew. Hopefully, there will be another victory, and another after that. We love Malta, we love this race, and we love offshore racing.”

The Royal Malta Yacht Club has been a hive of activity over the past 24 hours as boats and crew continue to arrive in Marsamxett Harbour. Exhausted but elated sailors have reunited with family and friends, while the dockside has come alive with accounts of close battles, difficult decisions and extraordinary experiences at sea. The weather has provided its own spectacle. Last night's thunderstorms brought thunder and lightning across Malta, but today the skies have cleared to reveal glorious sunshine and sublime Mediterranean conditions. For competitors returning after days of demanding offshore racing, it is a welcome transformation.

Following yesterday’s excitement around IRC 1 and IRC 2, more class podiums have begun to take shape, adding to the general sense of celebration. Outstanding performances have been delivered by Maltese crews, a French offshore racing legend and an Italian two-handed partnership among others.

IRC 3 – Artie III Claims Maltese Honours

Lee Satariano's HH42 Artie III, co-skippered by Christian Ripard, has won IRC 3 by approximately three hours on corrected time, completing an impressive performance that saw the yacht lead its class for virtually the whole race. Petar Dimitrov’s ClubSwan 42 About Time is runner up with another ClubSwan 42, Milan Hajek’s Daring Sisters, in third.

Artie III was also the first Maltese yacht to finish. Her strong opening stages, particularly in reaching conditions that suited the boat, briefly propelled the team to the top of the estimated overall IRC standings. Satariano explained: “We knew the conditions were, to start with, in our favour. I know what the boat really likes—a lot of reaching and running in medium to stronger conditions. We had more wind than anticipated, which was a good bonus.”

For Ripard, competing in a record 36th Rolex Middle Sea Race, the result was particularly satisfying. “It means a lot to me because the crew really worked hard,” said Ripard. “This race is just full-on all the time. You never really get to sit down or go below for more than an hour and a half without something changing.” Ripard's connection with the event runs particularly deep. His father, Paul and uncle John were two of the race founders, along with Britons Jimmy White and Alan Green. “I first did the race in 1976 aged 15. I just love offshore racing. I love the interaction with the crew, the competition and the difficult parts of it,” he said. “I feel this especially when I get back to the dock and everybody's fine and everybody's safe. To know that you went out and gave it all you had is particularly satisfying.”

IRC 4 – Elusive 2 wins a thriller

One of the closest battles of the race ended with the Podesta family's First 45 Elusive 2 defeating fellow Maltese entry, Jonathan Gambin’s Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla over the final stages of the race. Ton Ton Laferla had held the advantage for much of the course, but Elusive 2 steadily clawed back a deficit of over 40 minutes in an extraordinary last leg contest between two established rivals. The provisional results have Ton Ton Laferla as runner up, with Sam and Andrew Hall’s J/125 Jackknife completing the podium in IRC 4.

For the Elusive crew, including owners Maya, Aaron and Christoph Podesta, the victory was hard-earned. “This was one of the toughest races mentally,” said Aaron Podesta. “Pushing all the way from Lampedusa to the finish and managing to clinch first position in class is massively rewarding.”
It had not been straight-forward. Not only were the crew playing catch-up the whole race, but they had also discovered an unexpected handicap had been hindering performance. After struggling for speed in light winds, they eventually stopped and backed the yacht down, dislodging a large crate that had become caught on the keel.

The penultimate leg was not much easier, with winds reaching 24 knots and waves of around two metres. “We have a saying on board: the race ends at the finish line,” explained Christoph. “You have to keep on pushing.” As the margin narrowed, regular updates from the tracker provided vital motivation. “Knowing that the deficit was shrinking with every update was very motivating to keep the crew going till the end.”

IRC 5 – Courrier Pogo's flying finish

French offshore racing legend Géry Trentesaux delivered a memorable performance aboard his new Courrier Pogo. Racing just four-up, the experienced team enjoyed a mixed race but ended on a high with a spectacularly fast passage back to Malta to win IRC 5. Behind, the battle for second place went right to the finish. Provisionally, just five minutes separated the double-handed crews on Solenn For Pure Ocean and Libertine on corrected time after more than four days of racing. Scricca was only another 14 minutes behind in fourth.

After encountering frustrating wind holes early on, the French yacht had come alive in the stronger conditions south of Sicily. “We were sailing between 12 and 14 knots. It was very fast,” said Trentesaux, who described prolonged periods of planing in the final stages. The new boat is particularly effective reaching and running, although Trentesaux acknowledged that the earlier lighter conditions had been more challenging. His crew have sailed together for decades, with an instinctive understanding that proved invaluable. Earlier this year, they won the Round Ireland Race aboard the same yacht.

Shortly after finishing, Trentesaux suggested that this might be his final major offshore race but soon appeared to have a change of heart even before the end of the interview. “For me, this race is the best in the world,” he said, adding with a smile: “I always say it's the last race, but for the Rolex Middle Sea Race I will probably I will come back.”

IRC 6 and IRC Double Handed – Colombre's double victory

Massimo Juris and Pietro Luciani have achieved an outstanding double victory aboard the Italian JPK 1080 Colombre, winning both IRC 6 and the IRC Double Handed division. The pair’s partnership stretches back more than a decade, including a previous Rolex Middle Sea Race and two-handed success aboard the First 40.7 Blue Colombre in 2013. Provisionally, American entry Red Ruby was second in IRC 6 with Diavolina in third. In Double Handed the provisional runner up is Solenn For Pure Ocean with Libertine behind in third.

“The Rolex Middle Sea Race is such a prestigious race,” Juris said. “We're on top of one of the best rankings because IRC 6 is a very competitive class. We are very, very happy indeed.” Luciani highlighted how modern technology has increased the workload for two-handed crews. “Double-handed sailing is getting tougher and tougher because we now have so much information on board,” he explained. “You get tons of information from the tracker, from AIS and from the weather forecast. It's a full-time job.”

Despite the relentless demands, the pair maintain a remarkably relaxed partnership. “We joke a lot. There's a good vibe on board,” said Luciani. “I'm the one who says right, and he has to say left, because then we discuss and maybe out of that discussion a good choice will come.” For Juris, the bond extends well beyond tactical decision-making. “To have Pietro on board is to feel safe. Good choices, tactical choices. It's great sailing with Pietro.”

Class40 and Multihull

The Class40 and MOCRA multihull fleets have also been completing demanding passages around Sicily, with their separate competitions adding further drama. Multihull Line Honours and the win after MOCRA correction went to ORC 50 Calamity skippered by Kimmo Nordstrom. Lukasz Komierowski’s Outremer 5X Luke Seawalker was second with Cesare Dania’s Garbina J, skippered by Alfredo Mecozzi third.

Aboard Calamity, tactician Ryan Breymaier recalled a particularly challenging conclusion to the race after a mainsail problem in the South Comino Channel. “The main just dropped straight into the lazy jacks,” said Breymaier. “We got through on headsail alone before managing to hoist the main to the third reef using a spinnaker halyard. Racing into the finish in 30 knots with three reefs in the main was impressive, I have never done anything like that.”

The Class40 battle was won by Louis Torreilles’ Stella Nova after an epic battle with Ivica Kostelic’s Optimus Prime skippered by Matic Vrecko and, at times, Gildwen Moriceau Loquen’s Flamingo Rosso. Optimus Prime and Stella Nova traded the lead for much of the race but the coup de gras went to Stella Nova, taking the gun by just over 55 minutes.

The Fleet Continues to Arrive

While the major class prizes look settled, the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race continues for those yachts still at sea. Each crew has its own story of triumph, disappointment, endurance and discovery, with the prospect of finishing in Malta providing powerful motivation after a demanding race. As more competitors return to the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the celebrations continue, bringing together an international sailing community united by one of the sport's great offshore adventures.

At 17:30 CEST, 65 yachts have finished, 28 yachts are still racing and 14 had retired.