The 44th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the legendary regatta around Sicily and its minor islands, kicks off tomorrow. 112 yachts representing 25 countries, ranging from the smallest one (Muddley 9.76m) to the largest (Spirit of Malouen Wally 107) with numerous vessels equipped with Armare Ropes rigging.
The regatta, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, 606 nautical miles long, starts and finishes off Malta, featuring an anticlockwise lap of Sicily amidst breathtaking landscapes and challenging passages. After the Strait of Messina, the course of the Rolex Middle Sea Race includes buoys at Stromboli, Favignana, Pantelleria, and Lampedusa before returning to La Valletta.
Join us tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 11:00 AM, for the spectacular start from Malta’s Grand Harbour, marked by cannon fire from the battery located on the forts of the Knights of Valletta (live coverage begins at 10:30 AM CEST). With 112 boats participating from 25 countries, this race, considered by many as the most fascinating and challenging among all blue-water classics, continues to attract crews from around the world each year. This edition is anticipated to be characterised by light winds.
Armare Ropes recently supplied five major teams, which are providing excellent feedback. Naturally, we’ll be cheering for them!
Warrior Won (USA)
The U.S. Tp52 Warrior Won, owned by Chris Sheehan and rigged with Armare Ropes rigging provided by High Tensile Rigging, clinched a third overall position in the IRC class during the preparatory Coastal Race yesterday. They finished behind the Swiss Farr 52 Chocolate 3, owned by Francois Bopp, and the winner, the Ker 46 Lisa R, owned by Italian Di Vincenzo. This result, coupled with their third-place finish at this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, an impressive fourth place at the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart, and a victory in the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600, heightens expectations for their performance in the upcoming Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Warrior Won © Betsy Senescu / Ultimate Sailing
Pyewacket 70 (USA)
Two generations of the Disney family have sailed boats under the name Pyewacket. The latest Pyewacket 70, the fastest in the dynasty, is a modified Volvo 70 with a taller mast, lighter hull, and deeper keel compared to the original box rule. It was designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and built for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2011. Roy P. Disney purchased it in 2019. This year Pyewacket 70 secured Monohull Line Honors in the RORC Caribbean 600. The monohull is equipped with Armare Ropes rigging provided by High Tensile Rigging.
Pyewacket70 © RORC / Tim Wright
Wild Joe (HUN)
At the 2022 Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Hungarian RP 60, Wild Joe, owned by Marton Jozsa, clinched first place overall in ORC, third overall in IRC, and second in IRC1 class. For this year’s edition, the 60-foot vessel designed by Reichel-Pugh is equipped with Armare Ropes rigging supplied by Hunsail.
Wild Joe
Carbonita (ITA)
On the Neo 570c Carbonita owned by Manolis Kondylis, which secured third place overall in ORC at the 151 Miglia Race this year and achieved a third-place finish in the Palermo-Montecarlo last year, we recently carried out the reconditioning of running rigging. We reused the still viable cores of the lines, replacing only the protective covers.
Carbonita © Antonio Latini / Neo Yachts
Karnak (SMR)
For the Class40, owned by Marco Bianchini, with Ravenna skipper Stefano Raspadori at the helm, we developed and produced a unidirectional torsional cable installed on the furler controlling the furling jib.
Karnak
We only have to wait until Saturday at 11:00 to enjoy the live broadcast of the spectacular departure from La Valletta.
Fair winds to all the crews!