A record breaking, 80 boats will sail away off the coast of the Maltese Islands on Saturday 18th October, as the 29th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race gets underway.

40 years have passed since the first edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was held, but it is actually the 29th race. Starting off as a sporting rivalry between two brothers, Paul and John Ripard, the race has well developed, and become a highly anticipated yachting event. This years’ edition has attracted none less than 80 boats, from a whopping 20 nations ranging from Israel to the Marshall Islands. This eclipses the previous 2006 record of 68 entries.

‘ Lots are doing the race for the second, third, fourth time and a large number are here for the first time’ says Commodore Georges Bonello DuPuis. For the Royal Malta Yacht Club this number of entries is reassuring if nothing else.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and since 2002, Rolex SA became the title sponsor of the race.