Winner firm for Rolex Middle Sea Race

Valletta, Malta (October 23, 2025) – The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race started October 18 for the 606-nautical-mile offshore race which navigates a circular route around Sicily that starts and finishes in Malta. The overall winner of the 46th edition was the Mills 72 Balthasar, led by Louis Balcaen, completing the iconic course in 02d 22:00:33.

The crew knew they had sailed an exceptional race as soon as they crossed the finish line early on October 21. Balthasar’s corrected time set a high bar for those left on the course, a bar that proved too much despite the best efforts of even the Botin 52 Django Deer, whose corrected time was just five minutes adrift.

The smaller boats would be undone eventually by the sustained period of light winds around Lampedusa yesterday. Balcaen, who has sailed in two round the world races, described the possibility of victory as “a dream realized, our first big win — the perfect combination of teamwork, precision, and a little bit of luck.”

After a challenging season, he said winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race “would mean the world to every sailor on board.”

Balthasar crew was Louis Balcaen, Arianne Van de Loosdrecht, Bouwe Bekking, Diego Torrado, Dirk de Ridder, Harry Owens, Harry Smith, Henri Demesmaeker, Jaime Ward, Javier De la Plaza, Jens Dolmer, Juan Totto, Louis-Robert Cool, Max Deckers, Pablo Arrarte, Rogier van Overveld, and Simbad Quiroga.

“This race really tested everything — the boat, the crew, and our patience,” noted Balcaen. “From the start, we knew it would be a mental game more than a physical one.

“The conditions looked manageable but, in reality, they were incredibly tricky: heavy rain, endless wind shifts, and long stretches where one wrong tack could undo hours of work. It was all about staying calm and consistent, keeping the boat moving when others stalled, and trusting each other completely.

“A major call came after Favignana, when we took the risk of heading all the way down to the Tunisian coast in search of breeze. It felt like a gamble, but the team backed the decision, and it paid off. Those are the moments that define a race like this — when you have to trust your instincts and your teammates.

“Crossing the finish line was both pure relief and joy. We’ve been chasing a big win for a long time, and to do it here, in Malta, against such a strong international fleet, is incredibly special. It’s not just about speed; it’s about endurance, teamwork, and belief.

“For me and for everyone on board Balthasar, this victory feels like the perfect reward for all the work, all the lessons, and all the miles we’ve sailed together.”

The Balthasar tactician, Bouwe Bekking, has been racing with the Balcaen family for over 20 years. A veteran of eight round the world races, including four as skipper and podiuming six times, this is the second time the Dutchman has been on the winning team at the Rolex Middle Sea Race, succeeding with Morning Glory in 2006.

“Tactically, this was a fascinating and at times brutal race,” commented Bekking. “The weather kept changing its mind, so it was all about staying alert and making decisions early — sometimes before the data fully agreed.

“We had to be patient and disciplined, always thinking two steps ahead, especially in those long transitions where the wind died completely. Offshore racing rewards the teams that adapt quickest, and that’s where this crew really shines.

“We’ve been sailing together a long time, and that makes an enormous difference. Everyone knows their role; the communication is sharp, and when it’s time to change gears — a sail change, a course shift — it happens instantly. That consistency is what keeps the performance steady through 600 miles of unpredictable weather.”

Confirming one of the key moments in the race was on the approach to Pantelleria, Bekking explained how Balthasar sailed far to the west, hunting for pressure and found it.

“For a while it looked risky,” he admitted. “The Tunisian Coast Guard even called us up to ask what we were doing there! But that move paid off; we came out with good speed and set up perfectly for the reach home from Lampedusa.

“To come away not just winning our class but taking the overall is a huge credit to the whole team. This race has a character of its own — tactically complex, full of traps, but immensely rewarding when it comes together. After all these years racing around the world, it’s fantastic to win a classic like the Rolex Middle Sea Race with such a committed, talented crew.”

Balthasar finished second on elapsed time, just less than five hours after the Reichel/Pugh design Black Jack 100 which completed the course in 02d 17:44:07.

Details: https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/

Elapsed Time Course Records:
Monohull – Comanche: 01d 16:17:50 in 2021
Multihull – Argo: 01d 09:29:28 in 2021

Source: RMSR