Rolex Middle Sea Race
Rolex Middle Sea Race takes place Oct 17 - 24, 2026 (start Oct 17; most finishers arrive over the following four days) in Valletta, Malta.
A 606-nautical-mile offshore race sailed anticlockwise from Grand Harbour, Valletta, past Capo Passero, the Messina Strait and Stromboli, then on to the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa before finishing at the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour. The Royal Malta Yacht Club organises it, and the start line runs from the Saluting Battery below the Upper Barrakka Gardens across to Fort St Angelo in Birgu. Members go for the harbour start and to follow the fleet's progress from the shore.
- When
- Oct 17 - 24, 2026 (start Oct 17; most finishers arrive over the following four days)
- Where
- Valletta, Malta
- Weather
- 19 - 25C by day with the sea still warm; offshore the course can deliver flat calm or gales, and nights turn cool
- When to book
- Book Valletta rooms 4 - 6 months out; entry through the Royal Malta Yacht Club opens in spring and crew berths are advertised over the summer
- Getting there
- MLA (Malta), 25 min to Valletta and 15 min to the RMYC at Ta' Xbiex
- Where to stay
- The Phoenicia Malta, Floriana
- Official site
- https://rolexmiddlesearace.com
How to attend
The Grand Harbour start is free to watch from the Barrakka Gardens and the Valletta bastions; the Royal Malta Yacht Club sells no spectator ticket.
Insider tip
The start line runs from the Saluting Battery below the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta across to Fort St Angelo in Birgu, so either side of Grand Harbour looks onto the fleet at the start.
Get inside Rolex Middle Sea Race
Booking matters here: book Valletta rooms 4 - 6 months out; entry through the Royal Malta Yacht Club opens in spring and crew berths are advertised over the summer. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 570 more events across the season.
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