Rolex Middle Sea Race
On 17 October 2026 the fleet leaves Grand Harbour, Valletta, for 606 nm around Sicily and back to Malta. An independent spectator’s guide: the course, the best places to watch the start, and where to sail once the fleet has gone.
Photo: Trajcinema · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The course
- 606 nm, anticlockwise around Sicily: out of Grand Harbour, north up Sicily’s east coast to the Strait of Messina, round Stromboli, west past the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, then south past Pantelleria and Lampedusa and back to Malta.
Where to watch
- Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery in Valletta look straight down on the start line.
- Across the harbour, the Gardjola Gardens on the tip of Senglea give a lower, closer view of the fleet tacking out.
- From the water, keep well clear of the start area and follow the harbour authority’s notices for spectator boats.
What to expect
- A start inside one of the Mediterranean’s most dramatic natural harbours, with bastions on both sides and the fleet tacking out between them.
- A course that strings together the Strait of Messina, the volcanic Aeolian Islands with Stromboli, the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa before the finish in Malta.
- A mixed fleet, from grand-prix maxis to family-crewed cruiser-racers, according to the organiser’s entry list.
Plan your visit
- The start was scheduled for Saturday 17 October 2026 from Grand Harbour, with staggered class starts from late morning (11:00 local time for the first warning, per the race programme).
- Finishers arrive over several days; boats finish off Marsamxett Harbour, below the Royal Malta Yacht Club at Ta’ Xbiex. The organiser runs a live tracker.
- Dates and times were checked on the organiser’s site in October 2026; confirm them before you go.
Sailing nearby: Comino and Gozo
Comino sits between Malta and Gozo, roughly 15–20 nm from Valletta depending on your track. The Blue Lagoon is famous and busy; in October it is quieter, but swimming zones and mooring rules still apply.
Gozo’s Mġarr Harbour has a marina, and Dwejra and Xlendi are popular day stops in settled weather. Checked October 2026; confirm local rules with Transport Malta before you go.
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