1600 CEST, Valletta, Malta. The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race has now passed the 24-hour mark. The fleet is progressing steadily with no repeat of last year’s challenging first night. A low-pressure system moved through the course area but with less intensity than expected, resulting in heavy rain but manageable sailing conditions. Competitors are currently sailing a northeasterly course towards Messina, requiring frequent sail changes and tacking maneuvers. The fleet is spread out from Acireale to a point north of Cefalù, along the rhumb line between Strombolicchio and Favignana. Leading the water is the Reichel/Pugh-designed Black Jack 100, entered by Remon Vos, approximately 30 nautical miles ahead of the Mills 72 Balthasar, skippered by Louis Balcaen. The first multihull, Adrien Keller’s Irens 84 Allegra from Switzerland, follows another 30nm back. In the overall race for IRC time correction, only four yachts have passed Stromboli, with Balthasar currently leading, followed closely by Black Jack and the French Carkeek 54 Daguet 5, skippered by Frédéric Puzin.
After a relatively smooth start from Grand Harbour, the 117 competing yachts made their way north towards Sicily in predominantly easterly winds. The early stages saw yachts close to the Sicilian shore, with Kranendonk, the Chinese entry, making a bold move offshore. As they neared Augusta, the VO65 split away again, successfully navigating the notorious Messina Strait and entering the Tyrrhenian Sea at 1000 CEST this morning, trailing Django Deer from Italy.
Black Jack, after trailing Allegra to Sicily’s southern tip, managed to take the lead between Avola and Capo Murro di Porco, maintaining a steady pace of 11-12 knots towards the toe of Italy before exiting the Strait at 0336 CEST. Skipper Tristan Le Brun reported a successful race so far and a good standing in corrected time, encouraging the crew to keep pushing hard.
Noteworthy performances include Balthasar, which has dominated IRC 1, holding over an hour lead in corrected time against Black Jack, while the Australian J/V62 Whisper is in third place. The impressive Daguet 5 leads IRC 2, having crossed Stromboli ahead of several potent IRC 1 competitors. The Maltese First 45, Elusive 2, is also making significant headway, leading overall under IRC at both Capo Passero and Messina transit lines.
Conditions throughout the night across northern Sicily have been challenging, with light and shifty winds creating uncertainty for competitors. Skipper Campbell Field from Salpare described the night as long and wet, requiring patience and focus. The forecast suggests that yachts in front may extend their lead, while those behind could catch up if the wind changes favourably.
DAY 2 FORM REPORTS @ 1600 CEST
IRC 1: All competitors have passed through the Messina Strait, with Balthasar leading Black Jack 100 by over an hour, and Whisper in third place nearly two hours behind. The lead at Stromboli has contracted to less than an hour as Balthasar looks to rebuild her advantage.
IRC 2: Daguet 5 holds a half-hour advantage over Jon Desmond’s PAC 52 Final Final, with Django Deer in third. Daguet 5 was the only IRC 2 yacht to reach Stromboli by the cut-off time.
IRC 3: Salpare led the class through the Strait, with Aboat Time narrowly ahead on corrected time. The competition is tight among the leaders.
IRC 4: Géry Trentesaux’s Long Courrier leads the class, followed closely by Antonio Giulio Cafaro’s Ars Una after IRC time correction.
IRC 5: Elusive 2 maintains a strong lead, currently third overall after IRC correction. Darkwood follows in second but has dropped down the ranks on corrected time.
IRC 6: Simon Toms’ Zephyr leads IRC 6 and the overall standings, with a solid lead of over two hours on corrected time.
In the double-handed class, Lunatika has overtaken Libertine for the lead, while in the multihull category, Allegra reached Stromboli at 1321 CEST but has since struggled to maintain speed.
#RolexMiddleSeaRace #Sailing #YachtRace #OffshoreSailing #Malta #SailingLife
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
