Safety Guide - Rolex Middle Sea Race

Rolex Middle Sea Race Overview & Context

• About the race
  The Rolex Middle Sea Race was born from a friendly rivalry between two British yachtsmen living in Malta, Alan Green and Jimmy White, and Maltese sailors Paul and John Ripard of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. Seeking to create something more challenging than the typical regional races, Alan and Jimmy proposed a longer course designed to take advantage of the stronger autumn conditions. Their original idea alternated the start and finish between Malta and Syracuse, Sicily — laying the foundation for what has become one of the world’s most iconic offshore racing events.
  
• Start & Course
  The 46th edition race kick off is on Saturday, 18 October 2025, from Malta’s dramatic Grand Harbour before launching into an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily—some 606 nautical miles of mixed seas, straits, volcanoes, and open Mediterranean expanses.
  
• Fleet & Prestige
  Renowned internationally, the race already boasts entries from at least 10 nations, including debutants and top-tier boats like the defending champion Red Bandit, Australian Zen, and U.S. entry Final Final—meaning a competitive and diverse fleet is expected.
  
• Climate & Geography
  Autumn in the Med: unpredictable winds ranging from serene thermal breezes to sudden squalls, with strategic challenges through zones like the Strait of Messina, volcanic terrain at Stromboli, and the long southern passages past Pantelleria and Lampedusa.

Traffic & Navigational Intensity

• Start & Channel Density
  Expect busy, visually stunning starts in Valletta’s fortified harbours, with multiple classes launching in succession. Close-quarters navigation, heightened boat traffic, and strong coastal terrain make disciplined watch systems and collision avoidance essential.
  
• Tactical Chokepoints
  The Strait of Messina demands precise tidal and wind timing. Volcano-adjacent passages, especially near Stromboli, can introduce sudden squalls and micro-weather phenomena—testament to the race’s tactical complexity.

Weather & Sea Conditions

• Typical Conditions
  The Mediterranean in October delivers mixed moods—light, glassy seas may suddenly shift into bouncy chop, squalls, and shifting thermal gradients. Passage near islands can bring wind shadows or funneling; expect all this within hours.
  
• Historical Patterns
  While specific long-term records are limited, past races—including 2024—saw extremes: Red Bandit triumphed amid mixed wind and sea states, from peaceful calms to rough, testing stretches.

Official Rolex Middle Sea Race Safety Regulations and Requirements

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 is governed by the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) and must follow World Sailing’s Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Category 2. Here are the key regulatory highlights:

1. Responsibility of the Skipper (OSR 1.02)
“The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the Person in Charge…”

2. Category 2 Classification
“Races of extended duration along or not far removed from shorelines… where a high degree of self-sufficiency is required.”

3. Mandatory Gear Checklist

• 406 MHz EPIRB (OSR 4.19) registered and in-date
• AIS transponder always transmitting (OSR 3.29)
• Personal AIS Beacon
• Liferaft with SOLAS B or ISO 9650-1 compliance
• Lifejackets + tethers for every crew member (OSR 5.01)
• Sprayhoods, lights, crotch straps
• Recommended by World Sailing – Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs). These are NOT mandatory.

4. Crew Training (OSR 6.01)
Minimum 30% of the crew, including the skipper, must have completed World Sailing-approved offshore safety training within the past 5 years.

5. Grab Bags (OSR 4.21)

• A grab bag is required for each liferaft (except a spare liferaft under OSR 4.20.1(b)).
• Each grab bag must:
  • Have inherent flotation
  • Display at least 0.1 m² fluorescent colour (orange/yellow)
  • Be marked with the boat’s name
  • Include a lanyard and clip
• If allocated to a specific liferaft, the grab bag must be clearly marked.
• It must be readily accessible whether or not the boat is inverted.
• In applicable categories (Mo3 / Mu3 and higher), the grab bag must contain at least:
  • Watertight flashlight (with spare batteries and bulb)
  • 3 red hand flares
  • Watertight strobe light (or strobe function)
  • Knife
  • Whistle
• When not in use, required communication gear (handheld VHF, sat phone if carried) and flashlights must be stowed inside the grab bag or equivalent emergency container.

5. Tracker Use
All vessels must carry a race-issued tracker and maintain it in operational state.

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🔗 View Full OSR Document Here

🔗 View Rolex Middle Sea Race Notice of Race Here

For any further specific regulatory questions, we recommend contacting the RMYC Middle Sea Race team directly here.

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Beyond Compliance: Practical Survival Kit

• Integrated EPIRB + AIS + GNSS Unit – consider a high-performance beacon like Ocean Signal’s SafeSea EPIRB3 Pro (or equivalent) for immediate local and satellite-alert capability.
  
• Redundancy in Nav & Comms – ensure duplicate GPS units, spare AIS transmitters, handheld VHF radios, and backup power systems.
  
• Storm-wear & Heat Management – crew will face both scorching Mediterranean sun and intense squalls. Pack both breathable foul weather gear and onboard ventilation/shade solutions.
  
• Streamlined Watch Systems – with fatigue a major factor—especially on long southern legs—disciplined shift rotation and rest protocols are critical.
  
• Local Weather Briefing & Routing – use official race weather briefings, but also tap into local meteorological knowledge—land/sea breeze effects, volcanic microclimates, thermal shifts around islands.

Summary Checklist for Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 Entrants

Category	Required	Recommended
EPIRB	OSR 4.19-compliant 406 MHz beacon	Ocean Signal SafeSea EPIRB3 with AIS + RLS
AIS Transponder	Mandatory	Test integration pre-race
PLB for Crew	Strongly advised by RORC	Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1, PLB3 per crew OR MOB2
Liferaft	SOLAS/ISO Certified	Drybag-packed and serviced in 2025
Lifejackets	Auto-inflate, crotch straps, sprayhood	Add PLB, light, and whistle
Crew Training	30% minimum with OSR cert	All crew should drill together

EPIRB3 Pro with Float-Free Bracket

1. Complies with Offshore Category 1 Race Regulations

The Ocean Signal SafeSea EPIRB3 Pro is a fully compliant 406 MHz emergency beacon or EPIRB with integrated AIS, Return Link Service (RLS), and GNSS (GPS/Galileo), meeting World Sailing OSR 4.19 for EPIRBs aboard offshore racing yachts like those competing in the Rolex Middle Sea 2025 Race.

2. AIS + Global Distress Coverage for the Entire Yacht

This beacon broadcasts both a Cospas-Sarsat satellite alert for global SAR coordination and an AIS distress signal for immediate local visibility. In a yacht abandonment scenario, it ensures both MRCCs and nearby vessels are alerted quickly and accurately.

3. Typically Handled by the Skipper or Safety Officer

The SafeSea EPIRB3 Pro is however, knowing its function—and where it’s stowed—is essential for all crew in case of abandon-ship procedures.

rescueME PLB3

1. Meets World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Requirements

The PLB3 transmits a 406 MHz distress signal via Cospas-Sarsat with GPS, AIS, and 121.5 MHz homing, aligning with ISAF/World Sailing OSR 4.22 for personal locator beacons in Category 1 offshore races like Role Middle Sea Race 2025.

2. Dual Global + Local Alerting in One Device

It combines global Search And Rescue (SAR) alerting (via satellite) and local AIS broadcast, ensuring both international rescue authorities and nearby vessels are notified—dramatically increasing rescue chances in a man overboard situation.

3. Designed for Seamless Lifejacket Integration

Compact, lightweight, and supplied with a multifunction clip system, the PLB3 is designed to integrate easily into most inflatable lifejackets, ensuring automatic deployment during overboard incidents without interfering with sailing performance.

rescueME MOB2

1. AIS Alerts for Immediate Local Rescue

The rescueME MOB2 transmits your GPS location over AIS, allowing the yacht you’re sailing on—and any nearby vessels—to instantly see your position on their chartplotters or MFDs. This is critical in a fast-response scenario like a MOB during a race.

2. Automatic Activation with Lifejacket

Designed to integrate with your inflatable lifejacket, the MOB2 automatically activates when your PFD inflates—ensuring a hands-free response if you’re unconscious or disoriented in the water.

3. Purpose-Built for Group MOB Scenarios

With a long transmission range and no reliance on DSC or personal radios, the rescueME MOB2 is ideal for crew-based offshore races like the Middle Sea Race. It adds a layer of safety without requiring individual VHF programming, simplifying prep across a full racing team.

Integrated Crew Training

• Practice beacon activation, MOB procedures, and RLS confirmation in real-world drills
• Include in your World Sailing Safety at Sea training module

Summary

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 is a mesmerizing, multifaceted offshore test—blending Mediterranean beauty, strategic complexity, and unpredictable weather. Safety gear and OSR compliance are non-negotiable, but the race demands more: robust gear, thoughtful redundancy, smart crew routines, and tactical acuity.

If the Rolex Fastnet Race is known for its Atlantic drama, the Role Middle Sea Race is its sunlit, volcanic Mediterranean cousin—where calm seas, intense squalls, and Krakatoa-adjacent scenery await. Prepare, protect, and push on.