Goalposts move in Middle Sea Race

Ta’ Xbiex, Malta (October 27, 2021; 1700 CEST) – A Notice to Competitors was issued to all race entrants in the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race today at 1600 CEST by the Race Committee, advising them that the Organizing Committee, earlier today, had put into effect the provisions of Sailing Instruction (11.3) which allows for, in the event that severe weather conditions prevent boats from entering Marsamxett Harbour to finish, an alternative finish line to be established. As a consequence, the results for the 606nm course around Sicily are being recalculated.

Event information – Entry list – Tracker

About the Race:
The Rolex Middle Sea Race was established as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Jimmy White and Alan Green, two Englishmen residing in Malta, together with Paul and John Ripard, two Maltese members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

Jimmy, Alan (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), Paul and John would eventually map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in the immediate Maltese coastal waters.

The 606nm course, essentially a clockwise circumnavigation of Sicily starting and finishing in Malta, would be slightly longer than the RORC’s longest race, the Rolex Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today, although sailed in the reverse direction. The Rolex Middle Sea Race course record has been broken on five occasions since the inaugural edition in 1968.

The course record, established by George David’s 90-foot Rambler (USA) in 2007, is 47hrs 55mins 03 secs. The multihull record of 49 hours, 25 minutes, 1 second was set by the Multi70 Maserati in 2016.

Source: RMSR