The Rolex Middle Sea Race

Late October saw the conclusion of the Mediterranean offshore season with the Rolex Middle Sea Race. It starts and finishes in, almost certainly, the most awe-inspiring setting imaginable - the Grand Harbour Valletta. The 606 nautical mile route is a visual delight, as it takes in the Straits of Messina, Stromboli's active volcano and the rocky islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa as it makes its way around the Sicilian coat. Tactically demanding, with infamously changeable weather conditions this is a classic examination of seamanship.