Double win for YCM members in Malta

Django 7X has won the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Crossing the finish line in second place behind Black Jack 100 secured the Wallyrocket 71, helmed by Yacht Club de Monaco member Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, the overall IRC title in corrected time at the end of 606 nautical miles covered between Sicily and Malta. Remon Vos, also a YCM member, had already made a big impression with Black Jack 100 to claim line honours in the monohull category, so two boats and two top-tier results for members of the Monegasque club.

Django 7X wins Rolex Middle Sea Race

It was only when gaps between the remaining boats still in the race became clear that the final outcome could be announced. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday 21 October when the Royal Malta Yacht Club confirmed that no other competitor could improve on the IRC corrected time set by Django 7X. It means Giovanni Lombardi Stronati and his crew win the 47^th Rolex Middle Sea Race trophy.

It was an important result for this Wallyrocket 71. Django 7X crossed the finish on Monday at 21:02 after 2 days 9 hours 2 minutes 19 seconds of racing, just 39 minutes ahead of Balthasar, its direct rival for most of this offshore event.

A neck-and-neck race from the start

Their duel started early on, with the two boats already sailing neck and neck in the Strait of Messina. Django 7X later lost four nautical miles in a windless zone that Balthasar managed to skirt around. After passing Stromboli, the two were once again sailing virtually side by side.

This time the outcome favoured Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s crew, which included Vasco Vascotto, aboard Django 7X. As well as finishing 2^nd in real time in the monohulls, Django 7X also clinched 1^st place in the IRC Overall and IRC Class 1 categories. The team of talented international sailors navigated a course renowned for complex weather conditions, tricky transitions and strategic tactics with great skill.

“Winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race means so much to us. It’s a very important race. Last year we won our class in IRC 2 and this year we were overall winner in IRC 1. We are extremely proud of what we’ve achieved, and I am especially proud of our crew,” said Giovanni Lombardi Stronati.

Black Jack 100 first to cross the line

First out of the blocks to set the pace, Black Jack 100 crossed the finish line at 15:51 on Monday afternoon after 51 hours and 51 minutes of racing to secure Monohull Line Honours. In the process, Remon Vos’s Maxi skippered by Tristan Le Brun improved on its own previous record (set in 2010 when it was racing under the name Esimit Europa 2) by more than three hours.

Black Jack 100 also finished 1^st in ORC Overall and in ORC 2. In IRC, won by Django 7X, the big Maxi came 4^th overall and 3^rd in IRC Class 1.

Both racing yachts left their mark on this 47th edition: Black Jack 100 as the first to complete the course and Django 7X which won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on corrected time to earn a place on the event’s roll of honour.