A strong Maltese contingent 

Eleven Maltese yachts will be on the start line: Amuni (Kevin Pisani Zammit), Artie III (Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard), Calypso (Sebastian Ripard and Daniel Calascione), Elusive 2 (Aaron, Christoph and Maya Podesta), Geisha MeDirect (Stefan Debattista), Gozo Dream (Noel Grech), JYS Jan (Gary Mercieca and Jake Mallia), Kixx Me (Luis Azzopardi), Seven (Mario Debono), Ton Ton Laferla Insurance (Jonathan Gambin) and Vivace (Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele). 

Past winners 

Two of these crews have won the race before. Aaron, Christoph and Maya Podesta, children of the late Arthur Podesta, took overall honours on Elusive 2 in 2019 and 2020. This year 70 per cent of her regular crew return, joined by experienced sailors racing with the family for the first time. 

Lee Satariano won in 2011 and 2014 with an earlier Artie, both times with Christian Ripard as co-skipper, and the pair return together on Artie III. For Satariano, the year of preparation matters as much as the race itself. “This is my passion at the end of the day,” he says. “I enjoy spending weekends, and even weekdays, at the yard, switching off and working on the boat.” 

Ripard also reaches a milestone this year. His 36th race will take him past the record of 35 set by Arthur Podesta, father of the Elusive 2 crew. He has won the race twice as skipper: first with Bigfoot in 1996, the year the race was revived, and again in 2001, when Strait Dealer took both line honours and the overall win. Strait Dealer remains the only Maltese-crewed yacht to have been first to finish. 

A family crew 

For Sebastian Ripard and Daniel Calascione, co-owners of Calypso, this year’s race carries particular meaning. It is the first Rolex Middle Sea Race since the death in July of their grandfather, John Ripard Sr, one of the race’s co-founders. In her third race, and once again likely the smallest boat in the fleet, Calypso will carry five of his six grandchildren: Sebastian and Thomas Ripard, Daniel and Marc Calascione, and Luke Scicluna. Calypso regulars Saul Vassallo and Kris Borg Nicholas complete the crew. The sixth grandchild and longtime crew member, Sam Pizzuto, cannot join them this year. 

“This will be a poignant year for us,” Ripard says. “The race is closely linked to the collective memory of our grandfather, and we’ll be competing together on the same boat, confined to all of Calypso’s 30 feet.” 

Familiar faces 

Royal Malta Yacht Club Rear Commodore Mario Debono has long represented the race’s Corinthian spirit, sailing for the challenge and the company as much as for the result. After racing the Sun Odyssey 45 Janissah, he moves this year to Seven, a Grand Soleil 46 he acquired in Corfu in 2025. Leaving Janissah behind was “actually quite emotional,” he says. “I wasn’t trying to replace Janissah or erase that chapter. I simply felt ready to write another one.” 

All being well, 2026 will be Jonathan Gambin’s 19th race on Ton Ton Laferla Insurance. “By now taking part in the Rolex Middle Sea Race has become almost automatic,” he says. “Unless there is a good reason why I cannot, my crew and I expect to be on the start line. After so many editions it has become part of my year, although I never take the race itself for granted, and having a sponsor who stands behind you year after year is something we genuinely appreciate.” 

Stefan Debattista returns with Geisha MeDirect and a core crew he has raced with over several editions, joined this year by new members who bring their own offshore experience. “As usual, I want everyone to have fun and enjoy the whole experience, before, during and after the race,” Debattista says. “Considering our progress over the last few years, I’m hoping we can have a strong race this year.” 

Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele’s Vivace won the Arthur Podesta Trophy last year as the first Maltese boat in IRC. She returns with her core crew, sailors who have completed several editions together, and work on her performance has continued through the year. “We are once again full of energy and enthusiasm as we look ahead to this edition,” says Agius Delicata. “Preparations are well underway, with continuous work to make the boat better, faster and safer.” 

Fresh Campaigns 

JYS Jan represents the Jarhead Young Sailors’ Foundation. Co-skippers Gary Mercieca and Jake Mallia have five and four Rolex Middle Sea Races behind them respectively. This will be their third race together and their first as skippers, leading a crew of experienced sailors and newcomers confirmed this week. 

Noel Grech’s Gozo Dream, known to many as the Gozo boat, made her debut in 2023 as the first boat in the race with an all-Gozitan crew. 

Among the newer Maltese entries are Kevin Pisani Zammit’s Amuni and Luis Azzopardi’s Kixx Me. This will be Kixx Me’s first Rolex Middle Sea Race and Azzopardi’s third, following two editions on his previous boat, Corona. Pisani Zammit has three editions behind him and comes to the race on Amuni, a Farr 36 he bought a few months ago.  

“Bringing more than 100 yachts to Malta in the days before the start would not be possible without the support of our marinas,” says Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore Mark Napier. “We are grateful to Grand Harbour Marina, Grand Hotel Excelsior Marina, Marina di Valletta, Gardens Marina, Roland Marina and Manoel Island Marina, who make room for the fleet and look after the crews from the moment they arrive. Their cooperation is a large part of what makes Malta such a welcoming host for this race.” 

Following the race 

The 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race starts from Grand Harbour, Valletta, on Saturday 17 October 2026. The best places to watch the start are the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the waterfronts of Valletta, Senglea and Vittoriosa. 

The race can be followed live on the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Rolex Middle Sea Race social media channels, with commentary in English. Commentary in Maltese will be broadcast on TVMSport+.