When the starting cannon echoes off the limestone walls of Valletta’s Grand Harbour on 18 October, history will be made. Among the fleet will be Sailing Poland, skippered by Li An – the first-ever Chinese entry in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
For Li An, this is more than another regatta. It’s the fulfilment of a dream delayed by five years, a chance to place China on the map of one of sailing’s most storied offshore classics. “The Rolex Middle Sea Race has always been on my bucket list,” he explains. “I hoped to take part in 2020, but COVID got in the way. Many of my friends say it’s the most beautiful race course in the world, but also one of the most challenging when the Mistral blows.”
His words capture the allure of a race that has drawn sailors from every continent since 1968. But his entry also carries a deeper cultural resonance. “In Chinese we have an expression that translates as ‘friend and ship’ – or ‘friendship’. Offshore sailing is about trust and being our real selves on board. I consider those I sail with to be true friends.”
Li An’s journey
Li An’s résumé already places him among the most widely travelled sailors of his generation. He has competed in the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Sydney Hobart, the Bermuda Race, and was part of the TP52 Happy Go crew that achieved a rare double at last year’s Rolex China Sea Race, taking both line honours and overall victory.
Now, he is gathering a crew to take on Sicily’s volcanic waters. Sailing Poland, a Volvo 65, offers speed and raw power, but Li An admits he has never raced on the class before. To bolster the campaign, he has brought in charter broker Lucy Jackson to secure two professional crew. Alongside them will be a mix of China’s top talent:
- Jiu “Wolf” Yang, a veteran of the Dongfeng Ocean Race Team.
- Lijia “Lily” Xu, Olympic gold medallist from London 2012.
- A tight-knit group of long-time sailing friends who embody Li An’s ethos of camaraderie.
It is a line-up that blends professional pedigree with personal bonds, reflecting Li An’s belief that true offshore success is as much about trust as tactics.
The global fleet builds
While Li An’s crew marks a milestone for the race, they are not the only newcomers bringing international flavour to this year’s edition.
From Argentina comes Humildad Zero, skippered by Daniel Figueirido of Yacht Club Argentino. For Figueirido, sailing around Sicily is another step in a lifelong offshore journey. “Argentina has a rich maritime heritage, with designers like German Frers and sailors like Santiago Lange,” he notes. His own résumé includes winning line honours in the 500 Miles of the Rio de la Plata, a frigid July race he has completed double-handed three times. This will be his longest offshore challenge yet.
From Germany, the youthful Askew brings the enthusiasm of a student sailing club turned offshore contender. Owned by the Akademische Segelgruppe Karlsruhe, the Comet 38 will be skippered by Joshua Weller, a sailor who cut his teeth in 29ers, 49ers, and A-Cats before falling in love with the rhythm of offshore life. “Night watches at sea are special,” he says. “You see the stars more clearly, every sunrise is unforgettable. Offshore sailing intensifies every moment.”
And from the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy Sailing Association continues a proud tradition with HMSTC Dasher, a Nicholson 55. Skippered by Vincent Pietersz, the campaign combines seasoned mariners with novices. Since its founding in 1935, the RNSA has used sailing to train skills of leadership, resilience, and seamanship. The Middle Sea Race offers both challenge and classroom.
A course like no other
What unites these diverse crews is the magnetic pull of the 600-nautical mile lap around Sicily. Few offshore races blend coastal scenery with open-water challenge in quite the same way.
The fleet will pass the smoking cone of Stromboli, weave through the Aeolian Islands, and confront the swirling currents of the Strait of Messina. They may be becalmed in glassy Mediterranean seas one day, then hammered by Mistral gales the next. The course is unforgiving, but that is what makes it so iconic.
This year’s fleet will range from the sleek Shipman 72 Caiarossa of Spain to the 32-foot classic Celeste di Mare. The spread of boat sizes and crew backgrounds is part of the race’s appeal – anyone, from Olympic champion to amateur adventurer, can test themselves on the same track.
Anticipation in Valletta
As entries continue to build ahead of the September deadline, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is preparing for another spectacular gathering. Since 1968 the RMYC has nurtured the Rolex Middle Sea Race into a Mediterranean legend. The sight of yachts powering out of Grand Harbour beneath the Saluting Battery is now one of the most iconic moments in world sailing.
For Li An and his crew, it will be even more poignant. “Offshore sailing is about friendship,” he says simply. With those words, the first Chinese campaign in the Rolex Middle Sea Race captures the essence of what has always drawn sailors to Sicily – the pursuit of challenge, adventure, and bonds forged at sea.
