Balthasar, the Mills 72 skippered by Louis Balcaen, has claimed overall victory in the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Royal Malta Yacht Club confirmed today. No other yacht still racing could surpass Balthasar’s corrected IRC time.
The crew crossed the finish line in Marsamxett Harbour on Tuesday morning, greeted by Valletta’s sunlit skyline. Despite strong competition — notably from Django Deer, which finished just five minutes behind on corrected time — Balthasar’s performance set a standard that proved unbeatable.
According to the Royal Malta Yacht Club, Balcaen reflected on the win:
“This is a dream realised, our first big win — the perfect combination of teamwork, precision, and a little bit of luck.”
He described the race as a test of skill and patience:
“This race really tested everything — the boat, the crew, and our patience. From the start, we knew it would be a mental game more than a physical one. The conditions looked manageable but, in reality, they were incredibly tricky: heavy rain, endless wind shifts, and long stretches where one wrong tack could undo hours of work. It was all about staying calm and consistent, keeping the boat moving when others stalled, and trusting each other completely.”
Balcaen highlighted a decisive moment after Favignana:
“A major call came after Favignana, when we took the risk of heading all the way down to the Tunisian coast in search of breeze. It felt like a gamble, but the team backed the decision, and it paid off. Those are the moments that define a race like this — when you have to trust your instincts and your teammates.”
Tactician Bouwe Bekking, quoted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, described the tactical challenges:
“Tactically, this was a fascinating and at times brutal race. The weather kept changing its mind, so it was all about staying alert and making decisions early — sometimes before the data fully agreed. We had to be patient and disciplined, always thinking two steps ahead, especially in those long transitions where the wind died completely. Offshore racing rewards the teams that adapt quickest, and that’s where this crew really shines.”
Bekking also pointed to a key strategic decision near Pantelleria:
“For a while it looked risky. The Tunisian Coast Guard even called us up to ask what we were doing there! But that move paid off; we came out with good speed and set up perfectly for the reach home from Lampedusa.”
The Balthasar crew includes: Louis Balcaen, Arianne Van de Loosdrecht, Bouwe Bekking, Diego Torrado, Dirk de Ridder, Harry Owens, Harry Smith, Henri Demesmaeker, Jaime Ward, Javier De la Plaza, Jens Dolmer, Juan Totto, Louis-Robert Cool, Max Deckers, Pablo Arrarte, Rogier van Overveld, and Simbad Quiroga.
Balthasar will receive the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy at the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday, 25 October.
