Malta's experienced crews prepare for Saturday
About 80 Maltese sailors are expected to join the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race when the 108-boat fleet starts from Grand Harbour on Saturday 17 October 2026. Eleven yachts are formally entered as Maltese, with other local crew members joining international boats on the 606-nautical-mile offshore circuit around Sicily.
The 16 October preparations focus on a different question from the spectacle of the largest racing maxis: how local sailors in comparatively modest yachts tackle a demanding course on familiar home waters. That makes the Maltese campaign significant within the luxury-cruiser and offshore racing market below 24 metres.
The route is not a simple coastal sprint. Crews must negotiate the Strait of Messina, the waters around Stromboli, the islands west of Sicily and the return toward Malta while responding to changing wind and sea conditions that can affect every class differently.
Artie III returns with a remarkable record
Among the local campaigns, Lee Satariano's HH42 Artie III brings a history of high-level success to this year's race. Satariano is a two-time overall winner, and the crew includes Christian Ripard, who is preparing for a record 36th participation after four overall victories.
The 42-foot size of Artie III makes the yacht relevant to a different ownership and crewing conversation from the largest line-honours contenders. A boat in this size bracket can be exceptionally competitive on corrected time, but the advantage comes from disciplined preparation, sailing skill and choosing the right tactics.
The event's IRC system allows yachts of different characteristics to compete for the overall prize on corrected time. This means that even when a much larger yacht completes the course first, a smaller crew may secure the principal handicap result through a consistently well-sailed race.
Family teams and returning contenders
The Podesta siblings, Maya, Aaron and Christoph, return aboard Elusive 2, following overall victories in 2019 and 2020. Their campaign reflects a longstanding family involvement in the race and the practical value of keeping a crew together over successive editions.
Jonathan Gambin is preparing for his nineteenth consecutive participation with the Dufour 44 Ton Ton Laferla, a familiar name in the Maltese racing scene. The team secured an IRC class victory last year and now faces another contest in which weather and the fleet's tactical decisions may change the result.
Royal Malta Yacht Club Rear Commodore Mario Debono is also returning, this time with the Grand Soleil 46 Seven rather than his previous yacht. Changes of boat can require extensive familiarisation because instrument settings, sail handling and crew positions have to be adapted to the new platform.
Preparation is a central part of the race
Safety planning for an offshore contest of this duration must cover more than the condition of sails and the expected wind. Watch schedules, navigation, emergency equipment, food, water, communications and the maintenance of equipment under load are all essential responsibilities for the crew.
Experienced Maltese campaigners emphasise that the course presents different decisions at successive stages. Crews may encounter light winds near one island and much stronger conditions after rounding another, so tactics must be matched to the boat rather than copied from a faster rival.
The Yachting Malta Coastal Race earlier this week provided a final opportunity for some entrants to rehearse manoeuvres under race pressure. It does not determine what will happen offshore, but such events can reveal difficulties that should be addressed before the 606-mile start.
Home-water heritage and the challenge ahead
The Rolex Middle Sea Race has a long Maltese identity stretching back to its inaugural edition in 1968. That history is carried by returning family crews as well as the newer generation of sailors learning to tackle a major offshore event within an organised team.
The home entries illustrate why corrected-time racing remains important: a moderate-size yacht can contest prizes on a course also used by powerful and professionally crewed boats. For observers, comparing performance fairly means following both elapsed times and the handicap results rather than relying on who first passes the finishing mark.
At this stage no 2026 result has been decided. The confirmed news is the participation of Maltese crews and their preparation for a Grand Harbour start on 17 October, with weather, seamanship and sustained teamwork still to determine the outcome.
