– Oct 21st 2026
Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Wallyrocket 51 Django 7x has been declared overall winner of the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race, claiming one of offshore sailing’s most coveted trophies after an outstanding performance around the 606-nautical-mile course.
While Django 7x took part in the ultra-light Loro Piana Giraglia in 2025, this was her first true offshore race. Her success was a testament to the meticulous preparation by her shore crew beforehand and the race crew nursing her around the challenging circuit.
The victory was earned through an intense, 606-mile match race against defending champion Balthasar (Louis Balcaen). After shaking off early challenger Pace (VO70) near the Strait of Messina, the two Maxis traded the lead repeatedly down the north coast of Sicily. A strategic tactical loop by Black Jack kept them clear of light patches, but Django 7x and Balthasar remained locked together through the shift-heavy transition at Favignana. It was there, following seamless maneuvers in volatile 80° to 220° wind shifts, that Django 7x reclaimed a lead she would not surrender.
“It was fun match racing with Django. She is a weapon and that showed,” commented Balthasar’s tactician, round the world veteran Bouwe Bekking. “In the light, we were competitive. Above 12-13 knots, they are just faster than us. Then they sailed into the first of the new breeze, and just extended. Then to Pantelleria, they were a bit faster reaching.”
As the fleet reached toward Pantelleria and Lampedusa, Django 7x leveraged her superior stability to pull away, adding four miles on Balthasar in just three and a half hours at speeds over 18 knots. The final leg to Malta turned into a test of endurance. Facing short, square 3-to-4-meter waves from all sides, the crew shifted into survival mode—throttling back to manage the severe sea state while off-watch members continually bailed water from below deck. Unable to point directly at the Comino Channel, they put in a final hitch east before hoisting the spinnaker at the harbour entrance to cross the line at a blistering 20 knots.
Ultimately, Django 7x beat Balthasar into second place overall by 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 20 seconds. Building on their IRC 2 class win from the previous year, Stronati’s team secured the overall IRC 1 and Rolex Middle Sea Race trophy, capping off a remarkable campaign in Valletta.
“Winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race means a great deal to us,” said Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. “It is a very important race. Last year we won our class in IRC 2, and this year we have won overall, racing in IRC 1. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and I am especially proud of our crew. Hopefully, there will be another victory, and another after that. We love Malta, we love this race, and we love offshore racing.”
