The 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race provided a mixture of triumph, disappointment and valuable experience for the ten Royal Malta Yacht Club entries that participated in this year’s 606-nautical-mile offshore challenge.

A total of 107 yachts started from Grand Harbour on 17 October, with the Maltese contingent featuring experienced competitors, promising young sailors and newly established professional campaigns.

Among the standout performances was that of Lee Satariano’s Artie III, which secured victory in IRC 3 and became the first Maltese yacht to complete the course.

Satariano, competing in his 17th edition and eighth aboard the HH42, added another achievement to a career that already includes two overall victories with a previous yacht.

His co-skipper Christian Ripard extended his participation record to 36 races.

“This is what I love about Artie: the crew, the team, the bond,” Satariano said. “We pushed hard from beginning to end.”

For Ripard, the attraction of the race remains undiminished.

“I love this race, and I’d love to do it again,” he said.

Another major Maltese success came through the Podesta siblings, Aaron, Christoph and Maya, aboard Elusive 2.

The crew emerged victorious from an absorbing battle with Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla, overturning their rivals’ advantage to win on IRC corrected time by just six minutes.

Although Ton Ton Laferla crossed the finish line first, Elusive 2’s corrected-time victory earned the Podesta family the Arthur Podesta Trophy, named after their late father.

“This race throws everything at you, and it is one of the toughest mentally,” Aaron Podesta said.

“The battle with Ton Ton started right from the gun, and we had to slowly claw our way back. There’s a saying on board: the race ends at the finish line.”

Gambin, competing in his 19th edition, admitted that sail damage during the final approach had proved costly.

With winds exceeding 30 knots, Ton Ton Laferla’s J2 headsail tore near Dragonara, leaving the crew facing additional difficulties in the closing stages.

Despite the disappointment, Gambin praised his crew and identified improving the yacht’s upwind performance in heavy weather as a priority for next year.

Maya Podesta, who co-skippers Elusive 2, highlighted the importance of teamwork and organisation during prolonged offshore races.

“This type of race is not all about strength,” she explained. “There are a lot of other jobs on the boat, and it’s all about fitting into the right spot.”

For Sebastian Ripard aboard Calypso, the smallest yacht among the club’s entries, the race carried particular emotional significance.

His grandfather, John Ripard Snr, was one of the founders of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and Sebastian recalled the family tradition of discussing each edition with him after returning to Malta.

“It is sad that I can no longer do that. But I am grateful that I had those experiences with him, and grateful that I can continue to build on his legacy,” Ripard said.

He also emphasised the personal satisfaction of completing such a demanding event aboard a smaller yacht, describing the experience as an opportunity to escape everyday pressures and test his limits.

Several other Maltese crews faced difficult conditions and technical setbacks.

Vivace, last year’s Arthur Podesta Trophy winner, was forced to retire near Marsala after a crew member suffered an injury.

Chiara Scerri Herrera, the only woman aboard and competing in her third Rolex Middle Sea Race, stressed that safety had to remain the priority.

Meanwhile, Stefan Debattista’s Geisha MeDirect combined local and international sailors, including 17-year-old Pippa Bartolo Parnis, who completed her third edition.

Debattista underlined the importance of crew chemistry and maintaining concentration during the demanding passages towards Pantelleria, Lampedusa and Malta.

“Maintaining boat speed, concentration and team morale while living at a 45-degree angle for days on end is no easy task,” he said.

Youth was also prominent aboard Luis Azzopardi’s Kixx Me, which featured two of the youngest participants in the fleet, 15-year-old Lily Ellul and 16-year-old Nathaniel Raute, alongside 71-year-old Joe Farrugia.

Despite minor technical problems, the crew successfully completed the race.

Azzopardi reserved particular praise for Ellul and Raute, describing their performances as consistent and courageous despite their limited experience.

“They did an excellent job. I would always consider having them with us in future races, because they gave 100% to their roles,” he said.

The Jarhead Young Sailors’ Foundation entry JYS Jan, skippered by Gary Mercieca, was less fortunate, retiring near Pantelleria after suffering a torn mainsail.

Mercieca nevertheless praised his largely inexperienced crew and acknowledged the importance of recognising when conditions made retirement necessary.

Mario Debono, Rear Commodore House at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, returned with Seven by Malta Sotheby’s International Realty following extensive improvements to the yacht.

The campaign, now professionally managed and sponsored, has ambitions to compete in the Caribbean within the next two years.

However, Debono insisted that maintaining the Corinthian spirit associated with the race remained essential.

“This does not mean leaving the Corinthian spirit behind. The race was born out of it, and I will continue to push for it and support it,” he said.

Kevin Pisani Zammit’s Amuni also showed encouraging performance before rigging damage forced the crew to retire shortly after rounding Favignana in strong winds and heavy seas.

Despite the premature conclusion, Pisani Zammit was satisfied with the yacht’s performance in both light and stronger conditions.

The experiences of the ten Royal Malta Yacht Club crews illustrated the different challenges posed by one of offshore sailing’s most demanding events.

From established veterans to teenagers making their debuts, the 2026 edition offered valuable lessons and memorable experiences, with many participants already setting their sights on returning in 2027.