A global fleet will compete in the 2022 Rolex Middle Sea Race, with the 43rd edition starting October 22, attracting a fleet of 120 yachts from 25 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, as well as most of Europe.

Five maxi multihulls and two maxi monohulls are expected to lead the charge around the 606 nautical mile course, albeit at a more gentlemanly pace than last year. The prevailing forecast is for a light wind race, in complete contrast to the dream conditions of 2021.

Experienced navigator and race router Mike Broughton noted how high pressure was dominating the central Mediterranean. “There will be no records this year, but on the plus side there should be no rain,” he said.

The first sections of the course all the way up to the Messina Strait look extremely tricky, but the front runners should expect decent breeze as they exit the Strait and head to Stromboli. “This wind will be on the nose, as will the medium, mid-teens breeze likely to be encountered from the Egadi Islands down to Lampedusa on the western side of the course.”

In other words, this is going to be a test of patience, mental resilience and a determination to eke out every tenth of a knot possible.

Headline acts are the five former MOD70 trimarans led, in terms of experience at least, by Giovanni Soldini’s well-travelled Italian entry Maserati Multi70. A three-time line honors winner in 2016, 2018, and 2020, Maserati was second…