With three weeks to go to the start of the 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race, the entry list augurs the possibility of a fabulous and fascinating race. 125 yachts are currently entered, just shy of the 130-boat record set in 2018. Not bad, given the circumstances surrounding this year’s event and proof positive of the enduring popularity of offshore racing and this classic of the Mediterranean in particular.

Irish offshore sailing interest in the fleet includes Kinsale's XP50 Freya (Conor Doyle) entered and ISORA's Andrew Hall racing Pata Negra from North Wales.

From Cork Harbour, Barry Hurley is racing on Sailplane and it is expected Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Kenny Rumball will be onboard the UK Matt 12, which took fifth overall in August's Fastnet Race, too.

Kinsale's XP50 Freya (Conor Doyle)

County Wicklow sailor Brian Flahive is racing on the new Otra Vez, a 15.8 metre ICE52 RS. There is speculation that another Wicklow sailor, Greystones-based Pamela Lee will be crewing a Volvo 70.

As regular Afloat readers know, Doyle's Freya is already Meditteranean-based having finished fifth in August's Palermo to Montecarlo Race.

The Middle Sea Race start from Grand Harbour, Valetta Photo: Kurt Arrigo/Rolez

The start from Grand Harbour, Valetta, on Saturday 23 October promises to be a spectacular occasion. The historic port filled with yachts and cannon fire ringing around the 16th century fortifications.

The fleet assembling ranges in scope from mighty Maxi Monohulls and Maxi Multihulls to plucky double-handed crews. The largest yacht registered is the Monegasque flagged 42.56m/140ft Skorpios, the smallest is the 9.45m/31ft Hanse 311, Gabriele Spaggiari’s Catina 4 from Italy.

100ft Comanche Photo: Kurt Arrigo

Given the right conditions, the race record of 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds will be under serious threat with the likes of Skorpios, the 30.48m/100ft Comanche (CAY), the 27m/88ft Rambler (USA) on the line, and not forgetting the multihulls, whose own record is nearly nine hours slower than the race/monohull time. Maserati Multi70 (ITA), the two MOD 70s: Mana (ITA) and Argo (USA), and the 24m/80ft Ultim’Emotion (FRA) must all have the aspiration, if circumstances lend themselves to a fast run. The current benchmark time has stood since 2007, or 13 editions, itself a record with the previous longest run being eight races.

All eyes, though, will be on the main prize: the overall win under IRC time correction and the magnificent Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy commissioned in 1968 by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Malta Tourism Authority (then, the Malta Government Tourist Board) and created by noted local artist Emanuel Vincent "Emvin" Cremona.

The host nation, Malta, has been the most successful in recent years, winning the trophy on four occasions since 2010. For the past two editions, the Podesta family, racing the First 45 Elusive 2, has won the ultimate prize. Aaron, Christoph, and Maya with their crew of friends are on a hattrick of victories for 2021, a feat last achieved over 40 years ago by Nita IV from 1978 to 1980.

The Podesta family's First 45 Elusive 2 Photo: Kurt Arrigo

Lee Satariano has lifted the trophy twice, in 2011 and 2014, in his previous boat. His latest, the carbon HH42 Artie III, is racing this year with the added impetus of multiple race winners, Christian Ripard and Timmy Camilleri onboard.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Gambin with his Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla, third overall last year, has acquired profound knowledge of the task having competed in every race since 2008. Two boats new to the race are under the stewardship of Maltese skippers and crew that also know the course well. Aaron Gatt Floridia has entered with his brand new ICE52 Otra Vez, designed by Umberto Felci. Sebastian Ripard, the grandson of John Ripard Sr the winner of the first-ever race, will skipper an all-Maltese crew on the brand-new J/99 Calypso. The crew includes his father John Jr and brother Tom. Like Sebastian, they have both won the race before.

The carbon HH42 Artie III

In 2018, Géry Trenteseaux’s Courrier Recommandé became the third French winner. This year, at least three French teams could be among the contenders. The NMD43 Albator, campaigned by Benoit Briand, was third overall in 2018. Noel Racine last competed in the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2016 coming fourth overall in a JPK 1010. This year, Racine will be racing his new JPK 1030, also named Foggy Dew. Eric de Turckheim’s NYMD54 Teasing Machine was third in 2017.

The race has seen a rise in Russian Federation entries over recent years and this edition is no exception with seven teams competing. The pick of these include Igor Rytov’s JPK 1080, Bogatyr, which was victorious in 2016, the first Russian yacht to win one of the 600-mile offshore classics; as well as Alexey Moskvin J/122 Buran, third overall in 2020, and Timofey Zhbankov’s JPK 1180 Rossko, fifth in 2020.

Some 19 Italian teams are expected and with 14 overall victories out 41, Italy has the most wins in the history of the race. Boats to look out for include Marco Paolucci’s Comet 45 Libertine and Leonardo Petti’s J/109 Chestress.

Perhaps surprisingly, contenders from the United Kingdom have won overall on only two occasions, Charles Dunstone’s Nokia in 2003 and Andres Soriano’s Alegre in 2009. 13 British teams are currently entered. A number were in fine form at the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race and three of those crews will be making their debut here: RORC Commodore James Neville with his HH42 Ino XXX was second overall at the Rolex Fastnet, Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra was third and Rob Bottomley’s Mat12 Sailplane was fifth. It would be unwise to rule out Mark Emerson and the A13 Phosphorus II, who finished sixth and have raced this course in a previous boat in 2015. The headline news, though, is surely the late entry of the overall winner of the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise must be one of the favourites having finished fourth at the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2019.

Germany has secured two wins and two entries are probably in the running this time around. Carl-Peter Forster will be racing the TP52 Freccia Rossa, which in different hands was seventh overall in 2020. TP52s have been highly successful in the race winning on three occasions in the last 10 editions. Maximilian Klink is taking part in his fifth race with a brand new Botin 52, Caro, highly optimised for IRC.

Hungary, Sweden and Switzerland have never won the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Hoping to lead their respective nation to a first will be regular competitors Marton Jozsa and the Reichel Pugh 60 Wild Joe (HUN) and Franco Niggeler with the Cookson 50 Kuka 3 (SUI). Both Wild Joe and Kuka 3 have shown form in previous editions. From Sweden, Jonas Grander’s Elliott 44 Matador arrives on the back of a fourth-place finish at the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race.

Finally, the Maxi monohull yachts have the capability of not only taking line honours and breaking records, but also winning overall after IRC time correction. Proof lies with George David’s 27.5m/90ft Rambler achieving the treble in 2007, preceded by Zephyrus IV in 2000. Double winners litter the history of the race, with Atalanta II in 2005 and Benbow in 1977 being two of the notable.

All in all, the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race can count itself a success whatever the outcome. For the second year in a row, the organisers – the Royal Malta Yacht Club – look to have answered every test the pandemic can throw. And, while nothing is certain, can look forward to embellishing the history of this much-loved and much-fabled race.

The 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021.

With 50 days to the start of the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is preparing itself for a stellar fleet and there is Irish offshore sailing interest in the lineup too with Kinsale's XP50 Freya (Conor Doyle) entered and ISORA's Andrew Hall racing Pata Negra from North Wales.

From Cork Harbour, Barry Hurley is racing on Sailplane and it is expected Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Kenny Rumball will be onboard the UK Matt 12, which took fifth overall in August's Fastnet Race, too.

County Wicklow sailor Brian Flahive is racing on the new Otra Vez, a 15.8 metre ICE52 RS. There is speculation that another Wicklow sailor, Greystones-based Pamela Lee will be crewing a Volvo 70.

As regular Afloat readers know, Doyle's Freya is already Meditteranean-based having finished fifth in August's Palermo to Montecarlo Race.

The latest submission of entry forms by Swedish yacht Blur and British yacht Akouavi, brought the entry list total to 101 yachts representing 24 countries. With close of entries scheduled for Friday, 12 September, with the discretion to accept late entries up to Friday, 1 October, there is clear potential for 2021 to rival some of the pre-pandemic three-figure fleets.

“We are utterly delighted with the response of the offshore sailing community,” said Commodore David Cremona. “2020 proved the popularity of the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s flagship event and our ability to pull off the race in demanding circumstances. This year suggests that popularity is as strong as ever. We are extremely grateful to the owners and crews willing to make the considerable effort participate despite the continuing uncertainties. In turn we are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations for the race.”

The current entry list is the usual polyglot of professional and Corinthian crews, multihulls and monohulls, racing maxis and small cruiser/racers. The greatest contingent is from France with 18 entries, including strong contenders such as Philippe Franz’s Albator, third overall under IRC in 2018, and Gerard Ludovic’s Solenn For Pure Ocean (10th overall in the same year). Noel Racine was fourth overall in 2016 with a previous iteration of Foggy Dew. France’s last win at the race came in 2018 with Courrier Recommandé, which came close to following up this success in 2019.

Italy is a perennial supplier of entries, understandably so, given its proximity and a large portion of the race being sailed in its territorial waters. Italian yachts have won the Middle Sea Race overall on 14 occasions, more than any other nation, including the hosts Malta. Mascalzone Latino was most recent in 2016, with B2 winning in 2015 and 2013. Boats to look out for include Massimo Minozzi’s J/99 Tokio, the Comet 45R Libertine of Marco Paolucci as well as the J/109 Chestress entered by Leonardo Petti. In fairness, most eyes will be on the reprise of the 2020 multihull battle between Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi 70 and Ricardo Pavoncelli’s MOD70 Mana, which shared the line honours and MOCRA spoils in a tight contest. This year, it will be a three-way fight with Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo, one of five American entries, adding spice to the much-anticipated contest.

The host nation Malta is fielding a high-quality contingent. 12 yachts, spear-headed by back-to-back overall winner Elusive 2, co-skippered by the Podesta siblings – Aaron, Christoph and Maya. “Ever since the Middle Sea Race re-emerged as an offshore classic in 1996, it has featured in our lives,” explains Maya. “It is a yearly, permanent fixture in our calendar not just for the race itself, but also the family-bonding it has provided ever since we first started racing with our father (Arthur) in the early 2000s”.

According to Aaron, despite having discovered a winning approach, preparation never gets any easier. “It does get better,” says Aaron. “Offshore racing is one of those sports where you need to make sure everything is well set up and will not let you down. We spend a lot of time making sure the boat is very organised.”

The three Podestas are great advocates for the race and all it offers. They are enthusiastic about attracting bigger and better fleets, despite the increased competition it brings. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication in terms of preparation, attention to detail and leaving nothing to chance to complete the Middle Sea Race, let alone win it,” advises Christoph. “For those crew participating for the first time, our best advice is to make sure you really familiarise yourself with your boat and keep your eyes and ears open any changes in conditions and circumstance, even when asleep! This is not a race for the faint-hearted, but it is hugely rewarding.”

Elsewhere in the Maltese fleet, the two-time winning crew of Lee Satariano’s Artie III will be on the start line, as well as Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla Insurance, third overall in 2020, the double-handed Unica of Jamie Sammut, class winners in 2016, and the J/99 Calypso entered by Sebastian Ripard, grandson of John Ripard Senior – a co-founder of the race and winner of the first in 1968.

Other Maltese entries include the newly launched ICE52 RS Otra Vez, owned by Aaron Gatt Floridia, who’s last participation in the race was in 2018. Andrew Agius Delicata’s Vivace will make a return in the double-handed class. Comanche Raider 3 (Ramon Sant Hill), Janissah (Mario Debono), Jonathan Camilleri Bowman’s Openpayd Sekuritance Maltese Falcon II along with the Jarhead Foundation’s J109s JYS Jan and JYS Jarhead complete the local roster.

British entries are strong too, with 11 so far, including Andrew Hall’s Pata Negra, third overall under IRC at this year’s Fastnet Race. Rob Bottomley’ Sailplane came fifth, in the same race, while Mark Emerson’s Phosphorus II finished sixth, suggesting a committed challenge from the British to win a race they have not seen success in since Andre Soriano’s Alegre in 2009.

The wider fleet also contains yachts with every chance of doing well in the competition for the Middle Sea Race trophy if they sail well and conditions suit. Jonas Grander’s Swedish entry, Matador, came fourth in the Fastnet Race. Maximilian Klink’s Caro crew have experience of top ten finishes in this race with their previous yacht and the 52-foot boat length has proven itself time and again. It is also hard to overlook George David’s Rambler. On his first outing in 2007, David took the triple crown of overall win, line honours and the race record. Continuing success with line honours may be a difficult proposition with the 100-foot Comanche and 140-foot Skorpios expected to duke it out for that title, but do not discount the 88-foot Rambler, under the time correction, if the first few days of the race are fast.

With just over three months to the start of the 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race, the race to be on the start line on Saturday 23 October is heating up.

As Afloat reported in May, fleet numbers are building nicely, 64 yachts are currently entered, exceeding the number reached at this same point in 2019, when 113 crews eventually participated. There is still plenty of time for entries to be lodged and the 42nd edition of the Mediterranean’s famous 606nm offshore classic looks set to provide another enthralling chapter in its burgeoning history.

The cut-off date for entry is officially Friday, 12 September 2021, but the organiser, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, has retained the discretion to accept late entries up to Friday, 1 October.

One yacht well on the way to completing its formalities is the stunning ClubSwan 125 Skorpios. Making its racing debut at the Rolex Fastnet Race in a week’s time, the Maltese sailing fraternity are also on tenterhooks, anticipating the magnificent 40-plus metre yacht gracing Grand Harbour, Valletta later this year. With a 55-metre mast, spectators at the Upper Barrakka Gardens might well feel like they can reach out and touch Skorpios as she crosses the start. Skorpios will be the biggest yacht ever to participate in the race, dwarfing the already impressive 35 metre, Nikata, which took part in 2018.

The Volvo 70 'I Love Poland' entry competing in the last middle Sea Race Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

The racing skipper of Nautor’s Swan’s latest flagship is Fernando Echavarri, the Spanish Olympic Tornado gold medallist from Beijing in 2008 and former Rolex World Sailor of the Year. Although this will be Echavarri’s debut at the Rolex Middle Sea Race, his offshore experience is of the highest quality having twice participated in the Volvo Ocean Race, once as crew and once as the skipper of a VO70. Unsurprisingly, the

“ We have an international, professional crew of 26 sailors,” explains Echavarri. “Nine have previously participated in various round the world races, such as the Whitbread, Volvo and Barcelona World Race. Besides myself, there are also other Olympic sailors in the team.”

And, should anyone get the impression this is simply a professional programme, Echavarri is quick to point out that Skorpios’ owner, Dmitry Rybolovlev, is also part of the crew and is one of the helmsmen. “Mr Rybolovlev is a passionate sailor who took up this sport around five years ago and has made remarkable progress since then,” comments Echavarri. “He was deeply involved in the main decisions regarding the boat construction, especially the areas of development. He is passionate about new technologies and has been challenging the team to innovate and think out of the box.”

By all accounts, Rybolovlev has been successful in his challenge. Inspired by designer Juan Kouyoumdjian, the highly-experienced builders at the Finnish yard have seemingly produced a masterpiece likely to challenge many of the existing offshore race records. “It’s too early to say if Skorpios will be the fastest monohull yacht, but, without a doubt, she has a huge potential,” admits Echavarri. “Skorpios was designed with great attention to detail. To achieve her light displacement, she has a deep-draught canting keel, reducing weight and increasing righting moment at the same time. The hull, deck, and structural parts are a carbon fibre prepreg with Nomex and Corecell. The keel fin is APX4 steel and a new generation of aerodynamic rig has been used to reduce the drag.”

Echavarri continues with the list of mouth-watering innovations: “To create horizontal and vertical lift at the same time, a unique rotating C-foil, with an asymmetrical profile, has been developed. This foil further reduces the boat’s displacement.” Hydraulically controlled the foil will help lift the boat out of the water when reaching, so that Skorpios ‘skims’ the surface.

Skorpios was launched in July 2021. The Rolex Fastnet Race will be her first competitive outing and will, primarily, be part of the extensive testing programme. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is slated as her second big event. “The boat will still be very new and is very sophisticated so, even though we realize how huge her ultimate potential is, we are being reasonable with our expectations for the first races,” says Echavarri. “Racing is, above all, about team work. The crew and the boat need to become a single mechanism before we will be able to maximize the great potential of Skorpios. That all said, we are very much looking forward to coming to Malta”
In the fight for line honours, Skorpios will have some tough company. The 30.5 metre racing maxi Comanche is among the entries and also making a debut performance at the race since returning from the southern hemisphere, where she holds the race record of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, albeit under previous ownership. Last year’s first to finish, the hugely popular VO70 I Love Poland is also back for a second lap of the yacht racing world’s most beautiful race course.

“The paramount goal of I Love Poland project, owned by the Polish National Foundation, is to train the next generation of ocean sailors. In our judgment, the best way to do this is to take part in races like the Rolex Middle Sea Race,” says Grzegorz Baranowski. “Like all of the participants, we are hoping to do our very best. Nevertheless, the most important aspects for us are the training and offering the opportunity to sail the Volvo Open 70 to the greatest possible number of young Polish sailors. We hope for the favourable weather conditions, breath-taking views of Stromboli, and healthy rivalry in the spirit of sportsmanship, which we remember from the previous edition.”

All things being well, an exciting battle to be first monohull yacht home is shaping up nicely. The 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021.

COVID-19With six months to go to the start of the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday, 23 October, the Mediterranean’s premier 600-mile offshore classic looks well set. Some 47 yachts from 17 countries have entered, currently ranging in size from the mighty 42.56 metres (140 feet) ClubSwan 125 Skorpios down to the 9.14m (29.12 ft) Pogo 30 One & Only. Following last year’s successful running of the race, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is quietly confident that not only will the 2021 edition take place, but it is on track to do so with a sizeable fleet, COVID-19 allowing.

The headline contest looks to be between the soon to be launched Skorpios and the 30.4m (100 ft) racing Maxi Comanche, which will also be making its race debut. On paper, both are more than capable of challenging the elusive monohull race record of 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds, which has stood firm since 2007. An intriguing tussle should be in store and there will be more on this story in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has always been a melting pot of nations, just as the island of Malta itself. A quick look at the Double-Handed Class confirms this. The division has steadily grown over recent years, in keeping with the global offshore racing trend. So far, nine entries have made the commitment. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are currently represented, with some creditable teams in the list.

The 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021. Photo: Rolex Kurt Arrigo

British entrant, Richard Palmer and the JPK10.10 Jangada’s experience of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is less than positive. Forced to retire on Jangada's only previous appearance at the race in 2018, Richard will be hoping for a result more in keeping with his racing efforts in 2020. Last year, Jangada took the overall win under IRC at the RORC Transatlantic Race (racing two-handed), as well as winning the IRC Double-Handed Class at the RORC Caribbean 600 and capped it off by taking home the RORC Yacht of the Year.

Gerald Boess & Jonathan Bordas, crewing Jubilee, the French J/109, have form of their own having won the John Illingworth Trophy for first in the Double Handed Class on corrected time under IRC at the 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race. “Preparation is very important, especially sailing double-handed,” explain the pair. “Everything from stowing the provisions on the boat to organising a watch system. You also need to be thinking ahead about what is coming. Trust in one another is also very important, so you can have proper sleep during the race!”

Another French yacht with potential to push for the podium is Ludovic Gérard’s Solenn for Pure Ocean. The JPK10.80 has appeared twice before at the Rolex Middle Sea Race, both times racing fully crewed. In, 2018, Solenn finished second in IRC 6, following up this impressive debut by winning IRC 6 in 2019 by four seconds on corrected time. Ludovic has some solid short-handed results to back up this pedigree with a second in the Rolex Giraglia and a third in the Quadra Solo-Duo Méditerranée

Beppe Bisotto with the Fast 42 Atame from Italy have been regular attenders for many years, mostly racing fully crewed to good effect. More recent efforts have been in the Double Handed Class. Beppe’s best result to date is a third in 2015, and for that he should not be discounted. Björn Ambos and Mandalay (GER), Peter Luyckx and Blackfish (BEL), Sergio Mazzoli and Nuova (ITA), Leonardo Fonti and Ultravox (ITA), and, Sergey Pankov and One & Only (ESP) round out the double handed entries for the time being.

Over the years, Maltese crews have consistently punched high above the relative weight of their country, taking on the larger sailing nations and securing some spectacular results on time correction. The first ever race was won by local boat Josian and the past two races have been won by Elusive 2, another yacht representing the island state.

Jonathan Gambin has yet to add his name to the list of overall winners, but it is not for want of effort. Jonathan has raced the course 13 times since his debut in 2008 with his Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla. Finishing eleventh overall in his first appearance, he has experienced the highs and lows of the race: ranging from retirements to third overall and first in IRC 5 in 2020.

“I love this race!” enthuses Jonathan. “Often, it marks my first “days-off” after a gruelling summer of work. I am fortunate to race with a good crew. They are all amateurs, mainly work colleagues and friends, but proven sailors. What they lack in experience with this type of race they make up for with attitude even when the going gets difficult. ”

“My favourite part of the race is the leg from Favignana to Pantelleria,” continues Jonathan. “It is usually a fast fetch in rough seas. As well as my crew, I am lucky to have a very supportive sponsor in Laferla. This year we will have a complete suit of sails for the first time. This will stand us in good stead and hopefully help us to an even better result than last year.”

Can Malta make it three wins in three year? The 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021.

All being well, the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021. The Notice of Race is available online and yachts may already register to participate. Given the ongoing global pandemic causing so much disruption, there is a long way to go before the starting cannons fire in Grand Harbour. However, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is one of the few organisations to have successfully hosted a blue riband offshore race in 2020. There is, therefore, considerable hope that the club will be able to repeat that success.

Some 50 yachts made it to Malta last year and took on the famous 606 nautical mile race that features two active volcanoes, a myriad of islands and, uniquely, a start and finish in the same location.

The 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race attracted the usual array of international entries, with 14 nationalities represented Photo: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

“We are thrilled to have pulled off such an achievement,” said Commodore David Cremona. “It was a real buzz after so many months of difficulty to welcome the fleet and put on the race. Everyone involved did the Rolex Middle Sea Race proud. We are under no illusion that it will be any more straight-forward this year, but we know it can be done and we will do our very best once again.”

The 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race attracted the usual array of international entries, with 14 nationalities represented. Having witnessed the first ever Russian success in an offshore race, with Bogatyr in 2017, last year it was time for Poland to shine. The young crew of I Love Poland took Monohull Line Honours by a mere three minutes after a titanic struggle over the final few miles with their countrymen on E1.

Maserati Multi70 Photo: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

The battle in the multihull fleet was arguably even more intense, with the two Italian trimarans, Maserati Multi70 and Mana, locked together for virtually the entire duration of the race. Maserati finally managed to establish a lead at Lampedusa and held on to win Multihull Line Honours by 15 minutes. Mana took the overall win under MOCRA Rating.

The true fairy-tale in 2020 was the overall monohull victory of Elusive II under IRC Rating

Aside from overcoming the issues presented by COVID-19, the true fairy-tale in 2020 was the overall monohull victory of Elusive II under IRC Rating. For the second time in two years, the young, but experienced and thoroughly determined, Maltese crew held their nerve to win a light wind race that tested their patience as much as their skill. Elusive II’s repeat victory was the first since Nita IV in 1980. Such an achievement is rare in yachting. It has not been accomplished at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race since 1965 and only once since 1957 at the Rolex Fastnet Race. Yet, who’s to say Elusive II will not make it three in a row?

1700 CEST: It is the year that just keeps on giving. By midnight on Wednesday, 15 of the 50-boat fleet had completed the course. Ten of those were competing under IRC for the overall Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy and the French yacht, Tonnerre de Glen, was the ‘clubhouse leader’, facing a tense wait to see if their corrected time could be overhauled. With more than 30 boats still on the course, there were plenty with the opportunity, if conditions conspired in their favour. At 0350 CEST, this morning (Thursday), it was all over for Dominique Tian’s Tonnerre. The Maltese yacht, Elusive 2, slipped across the line in a fading breeze to take the lead by just over one and a half hours. The burden of waiting had transferred.

That wait was close to 12 hours but, at 1500 CEST, the Royal Malta Yacht Club were satisfied no one out on the course could surpass Elusive 2. As winners of last year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race, by winning the 41st edition, the crew of the Beneteau First 45, jointly skippered by Maya, Christoph and Aaron Podesta, had achieved something no boat had managed since 1980 - winning back to back races. The Podesta family chapter in the legend of the race, began by father Arthur back in 1968, continues to grow.

The Elusive crew are an impressively tight knit group. The preparation of their boat is detailed and exemplary. It was made more complicated this year by the need to consider social distancing and maintain family bubbles. It is a real team, each member bringing something special to the mix. So closely bound are the four main protagonists, the three Podesta siblings and the navigator, David Anastasi, that they even considered not racing at all had one of them fallen ill before the start.

“It is a huge achievement to have won this race in back to back years,” enthused Christoph, clearly grappling with the enormity of their success. “It is really hard to win the race at the best of times, so winning it twice in a row is massive and something we are all going to be very proud of for a long time to come. We are sailing with our family boat, with a family team and I am struggling to find words to describe the feeling!”

“It is quite surreal that we have managed to tick all the boxes to top the podium again,” confirmed Maya. “The race means a lot to us. We worked really hard preparing the boat, just as if it was any other year. We were juggling so much between work and family though, we almost did not have time to think properly about the race. Nothing comes easily and we worked very hard for it pushing, pushing, pushing.”

For Aaron, too, the size of accomplishment is taking time to dawn, perhaps reflecting the exhaustion etched in his face as he stepped ashore after nearly five days at sea: “Generally, a Rolex Middle Sea Race is a mix of physical and mental toughness. Last year was a good mixture of the two. This year, the light conditions made it mentally very challenging.”

“Physically it was pretty straight-forward,” continued Aaron. “There was no battling with oilskins while the boat pounds and heels, or getting in and out of a wet bunk. Mentally, though, it was super-draining. You could not relax for one minute. There were wind holes everywhere, every corner of the race had a park up. We had to really plan how we were going to get out of the holes as quick as possible.”

David Anastasi commented: “This year was really interesting tactically and navigationally because of the relatively small size of the fleet and our class. Some of our usual competition did not make it, so we lacked boats to gauge ourselves against. Last year we could see our gains. So we sailed our race, were confident in our decisions, making them based upon where we were on the course rather than looking at other boats.”

Despite the fatigue from the cerebral test, they clearly relished the challenge. Christoph, who was completing his 19th race, enjoys each opportunity to learn more about the course: “Every year, I keep adding new tricks and pieces of the puzzle to the notebook of the race. Hopefully, I will use them in the future to make sure we do not get stuck or lose valuable time for silly mistakes.”

Like his brother and sister, Christoph was delighted that they and the crew had adapted well to the circumstances of this year. “We normally have a really heavy weather piece of the race that takes it out of us,” he continued. “This year, I think all that energy was channelled into patience and calmness, keeping the boat going fast, trying to understand the weather patterns and strategic positioning on the course.”

As well as being first overall in the IRC fleet, Elusive secured the veritable ‘cherry on the cake’ according to Aaron, by being first Maltese boat home on the water. Something they really had not expected at all, but being fiercely proud of their national heritage, a scalp that is valued highly.

Are the Elusive crew looking ahead to next year? “We are clearly quite addicted to the race,” admits Christoph. “I have no doubt we will start joking between us about modifications and improvements, picking up upon weaknesses we found with the boat and ourselves. I’m sure we‘ll keep on building on all the hard work.”

It has taken 40 years for a boat to repeat success in consecutive years.

Who would bet against next year being a three-peat?

At 15:00 CEST today (Thursday, 22 October 2020) the winner of the 41st edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was announced as the Maltese First 45 Elusive 2, skippered by Aaron, Christoph and Maya Podesta.

As Afloat reported earlier, none of the remaining yachts at sea are able to better their corrected time.

Elusive 2 becomes the first boat to win back to back races since Nita IV, which won three times between 1978 and 1980.

A strengthening breeze from the southeast has brought the key middle group of top handicap win contenders in the 41st Rolex Middle Sea Race from Lampedusa through the night and the early hours of this morning to the finish at Malta. And though the wind drew more from the east to head them as they neared Valetta, the leading home team of the Podesta family in the First 45 Elusive 2 retained the first place on handicap in which they'd clearly emerged at the Lamepdusa turn, and took what now looks like an unassailable overall win in the 41st Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Once she'd found the breeze, Elusive's performance improved even further, and she lengthened her corrected overall lead to almost exactly two hours ahead of Dominique Tian's Ker 46 Tonnere de Glen (originally Piet Vroon's Tonnere de Breskens, and no stranger to the Round Ireland Course).

The top eight places as currently finished have underlined the exceptionally international nature of this race, which attracted entries from 21 countries, and saw 15 nations represented at the start – with crew from many more - even after pandemic restrictions reduced the boat numbers.

Third place saw a return to the frame by the Belgian Swa 50 Baltahasar (Louis Balcaen), 4th was the TP52 Freccia Rossa from Russia, 5th was the Aquila 45 Katsu from Germany, 6th was Teasing Machine from France, 7th was Hagar V from Italy and 8th was Aragon from The Netherlands with Nin O'Leary on board, which was first on IRC of the boats above 70ft and winner of Class 1.

After an excellent Pantellaria to Lampedusa leg, Middle Sea Race defending champion Elusive 2 (Podesta family, Royal Malta YC) has just corrected into the overall lead, and up ahead the Volvo 70 I Love Poland (Konrad Lipski) has finally made the finish to take the monohull line honours, as Afloat reported here.

While Elusive 2 has always been in touch, and led on Corrected Time now and again, more recently the focus has been on boats around the 50 to 55ft mark as favourites to win in a demanding race in flukey winds, with some of the more austerely-provisioned now getting low on food.

The Aquila 45 Katsu, formerly owned by RUYC member Alan Hannon and now owned by Carl-Peter Forster of Germany, is currently third overall in the Middle Sea Race. Photo courtesy RMYC.

But well-fed or not, for the last three turns of this 606-mile race - at Favignana, Pantelleria and Lampedusa - the top IRC placings have been shuffled between around eight boats, and at Lampedusa it was Elusive's turn to correct into 50 minutes ahead of the French-owned Ker 46 Tonnere de Glen, with another similarly similarly-sized boat, the Aquila 45 Katsu (once owned by Donegal-based Royal Ulster YC member Alan Hannon) in third, while the Marten 72 Aragon, with Crosshaven's Nin O'Leary in the afterguard, is staying in the picture at 8th.

Saving the best till last – some excellent sailing between Pantelleria and Lampedusa has done the business for Elusive 2

I Love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski crossed the finish line of the 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race at the Royal Malta Yacht Club to take Monohull Line Honours at 11:58:05 CEST today (Wednesday 21st October) in an elapsed time of 3 days, 23 hours 58 minutes 5 seconds.

Baranowski, claimed a dramatic line honours title following the closest finish in recent race history. She arrived a little over three minutes ahead of rival entry E1, also from Poland and another VO70. The two crews enjoyed a memorable duel over the final ten miles, effectively match racing towards the finish line.

The race record remains the time of one day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and three seconds set by the American yacht Rambler in 2007.