Yachting Malta Coastal Race delivers perfect prelude to the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race

by Royal Malta Yacht Club 16 Oct 07:17 AEDT 15 October 2025

The Yachting Malta Coastal Race, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, provided a thrilling variety of conditions for an international fleet — a fitting appetizer ahead of the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race, which starts from Valletta's Grand Harbour on Saturday, 18 October.

Starting from Marsamxett Harbour, the fleet tackled a 26-nautical mile course that sent them on a broad reach along Malta's West Coast and around the island of Comino, before returning on a beat back to the finish in Marsamxett. A steady southeasterly gradient breeze built throughout the day, with later finishers meeting a dramatic squall as rain swept across the course, a reminder that this race area in October always has surprises in store.

IRC 1

Remon Vos' RP100 Black Jack, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, claimed line honours in two hours, 13 minutes, 27 seconds. Just 13 minutes behind on the water came Belgian Louis Balcaen's Mills 72 Balthazar, second on the water. The overall victory for the Yachting Malta Coastal Race went to the Australian JV62 Whisper, co-skippered by David Griffith, Matthew Donald, and Chris Townsend.

"The Yachting Malta Coastal Race was such a beautiful course for those of us who haven't been to these islands before," said owner David Griffith. "Leaving from such a historic harbour and running down the coast to Comino was magnificent. The flat water was a treat for us; we're used to the lumpy east coast of Australia! It was great to race against such a competitive fleet, and we're absolutely delighted with the result."

IRC 2

Turkish TP52 Arkas Blue Moon took the class win by less than three minutes from Gordon Ketelbey's Australian TP52 Zen, with Arto Linnervuo's Finnish Infiniti 52 Tulikettu completing the podium.

"It was incredibly close," said trimmer Fikret Oral. "To finish first in our class against such strong international competition felt fantastic. Our team is almost entirely Turkish, with British coach Martin Watts guiding us. We're a mix of young and experienced sailors sharing the same passion and we'll keep coming back until a Turkish team wins the Rolex Middle Sea Race outright."

IRC 3 & 4

There was more Turkish delight in IRC 3, where MAT 1180 Beymetal Team LR-TOK Sailing won by just four minutes over Marietta Strasoldo's Swan 65 Lunz Am Meer. Tobias Juul Johnsen's Norwegian Pogo 40 Black Pearl placed third.

In IRC 4, Sean Borg's Maltese Cape 31 Jubatus secured victory by six minutes on corrected time and was second overall for the race. Taavet Uudam's Estonian MAT 1220 Nola was second with Jonathan Gambin's Maltese Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla finishing third, just two minutes adrift.

"It was a fantastic race, 12 knots on the reach at the start, then the chaos of the first mark, spinnakers up around Comino, and maxis blasting past us," said Borg. "On the fetch back home, everything clicked. A great result for the Cape 31."

IRC 5 & 6

The Podestà family's Maltese First 45 Elusive 2 took top honours in IRC 5 by three minutes from the Slovenian Elan 450 Karpo, co-skippered by Maks and Matic Vrecko. Michael O'Donnell's Irish J/121 Darkwood finished third.

In IRC 6, Andrew Agius Delicata & Matthew Gabriele's Reflex 38 Vivace topped an all-Maltese podium, ahead of Claudio Bugeja's JYS Jan from the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation and Matthew Scicluna & Zach Cassar Torreggiani's Sun Fast 3600 Mistral Racing MT.

"It was a spectacular race that showcased every kind of weather; from gentle breezes to sudden squalls," said Agius Delicata. "Our teamwork was impeccable, carrying us from a strong start to a surreal finish. With elite boats from around the world, it was a truly unforgettable competition."

The Yachting Malta Coastal Race Prize Giving will take place this evening, Wednesday, 15 October, during the Rolex Middle Sea Race Owners' Reception in St Julians. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for the main event — the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race, starting Saturday, 18 October at 1100 CEST from the iconic Grand Harbour, Valletta.

More information at www.rolexmiddlesearace.com