Marco Paolucci, skipper of the JPK 1180 Libertine, secured an impressive third place in the IRC double-handed category of the 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Here is his account of the race:
This year, I arrived in Malta well ahead of schedule, on Sunday, October 12th, together with Enrico Ciotti, a long-time member of Libertine’s short team. Perhaps I was eager to return to the Middle Sea Race after a year’s forced break — without a boat — since Libertine Comet was sold in 2023.
Last December, the new Libertine arrived, a JPK 11.80: new boat, new challenges. Getting to know a yacht takes time and dedication — two things I’m not short of — but the road is long, and patience is essential. From January 2025, with friends, both professional and amateur sailors, I began the optimization work: mast tuning, new sails, refining the polars, and so on.
From May to September, several training regattas followed, all with one goal in mind: to be fully ready for the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
For my crewmate, Niccolò Bertola, it was his first time in Malta; for me, the fourteenth. He’s 38, I’m 63 — he could be my son.
We're off!
We set off cautiously, mid-fleet in IRC5, without trying to match the pace of fully-crewed boats, but without conceding anything either. Exiting the Grand Harbour of Valletta, everything went smoothly. The wind called for the A1.5 spinnaker: two gybes, and we were abeam of St Julian’s. Down with the kite, out with the genoa, close-hauled toward Sicily and the first key passage: the Strait of Messina.
The boat moved well, averaging over 7 knots. The wind shifted as usual; rain set in and would not stop for sixteen hours. After passing Catania, the breeze dropped, forcing us into repeated tacks that pushed us toward the Calabrian coast. Those behind us found a different breeze and sailed straight, saving valuable miles. We regained a little ground toward the end of the leg, but not enough to make a break. We exited the Strait with a favorable current, but the wind collapsed, and the fleet bunched up again.
Our tactical choice to stay north approaching Stromboli proved right: we picked up a light breeze and sailed close-hauled at 6.5 knots of COG in 8–9 knots of true wind (TWS).
The sun set, and as often happens in these transitions of light, something changed: the wind dropped to 2 knots but stayed on the nose. We passed Strombolicchio at 1 knot of speed over ground, very close to the rock — never had I passed so near, not even in 2022, the year of great calms. We left the small island behind at 11 p.m., the sound of the surf on the rocks reminding us of the danger.
Care was needed around the exclusion zone near Stromboli: crossing it would mean heavy penalties. The wind opened up, we hoisted the gennaker, sailing at the boat’s favorite angle, 90–100° TWA, deliberately staying north, even at the cost of sailing a longer route, in search of better pressure. Heading for Ustica — a tactical choice that paid off, while our rivals stayed farther south.
We passed the Egadi Islands, taking care to leave Levanzo to port. We had a 67-mile lead in corrected time: the rating was starting to pay off, but the race was only halfway through.
On board, Starlink was a valuable tool: constant connection for weather updates, and to share the excitement with those following us, delighted to see us leading on YB Tracking. Experience has taught me that in the Middle Sea Race, you should never celebrate too early. I kept reminding everyone: stay calm — 300 miles to go.
The calm waters of Lampedusa
We knew the next part would be tough: forecasts showed fading headwinds ahead, and stronger breeze coming from behind. What we didn’t know was that in the light downwind legs, a crossed sea would make the spinnaker hard to fly, collapsing the sails. Meanwhile, our competitors enjoyed stronger winds between the Egadi Islands and Lampedusa, gaining 25 miles and, more importantly, sailing a more direct route, saving another 20.
The wait in the light airs off Lampedusa was brutal. Keeping concentration after four days of racing is never easy — starting in rain, ending in summer heat. As always around Lampedusa, dolphins came to play around the boat: mockery or encouragement? You never know.
Around us, all the top contenders of Groups 4 and 5: Mon Ile, Elusive II, Be Wild, Ton Ton La Ferla, the two Neos, the catamaran Picomole… all larger than us. We stayed offshore — a habit of mine, to avoid getting stuck under the island. This time, even those who hugged the coast got away cleanly.
With a good reaching angle toward Comino, we sailed faster than the apparent wind — a brief illusion, as everything died again at sunset. We moved at 1 knot of true wind, drifting with the current. We searched north for pressure — persistence paid off: the wind returned. We set the A1.5 again: 4.5 knots of boat speed for 6 knots TWS at 140° TWA.
The wind built. At 15 knots, we decided to switch from the A1.5 to the A4: a conservative but wise choice for the run toward the Comino Channel. The breeze rose to 22–24 knots, with gusts up to 27: the boat held 10 knots average, surfing at 15, perfectly stable, no broaches, no nose dives.
We took turns at the helm, each trying to catch the best wave: record to Niccolò — 17.4 knots.
Off Gozo, it was time to gybe: cross seas and powerful waves. We dropped the kite and sailed for a while under mainsail alone — fine-tuning our coordination. Misled by YB tracking, which showed us with a two-hour lead, we furled the gennaker near Comino — too much ferry traffic. Once clear, we hoisted the A2 up to the offset mark before the finish. With 16 knots of true wind, we made 9 knots of COG at 155° TWA, three gybes between anchored ships, and safely doused the spinnaker in its sock.
Final upwind leg, and the cannon fired at 11:12 a.m. on October 23rd.
End of the race in Valletta
We were happy, not even exhausted. As always in this magical race — different every year.
I’ll say it again: the Rolex Middle Sea Race has no equal — for its difficulty, its beauty, the level of its competitors, and the variety of its weather and sea conditions. All of this under the flawless organization of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, which I am proud to represent as a member.
Libertine’s results:
- 1st in double-handed real time – Vattani Trophy
- 3rd in IRC Double
- 7th in IRC 5 (first double-handed among fully-crewed boats)
The New Libertine project, launched in February 2024 with the purchase of the boat, had two goals, written into our sail number: MLT 1122.
The two “2s” recall the two podiums achieved at the MSR: 2020 with Andrea Fornaro, and 2022 with Lorenzo Zichichi.
The Comet could hardly have done better in IRC; what was missing were two “1s” — two wins.
The first came this year, with 1st place in double-handed real time. There’s still time to chase the IRC victory.
Acknowledgements
My thanks, in alphabetical order:
- Carlo Alfano – my lawyer, my biggest fan, your enthusiasm is contagious.
- Marco Balbi – indispensable partner throughout preparation, training, and tuning.
- Niccolò Bertola – outstanding sailor, top-level professional, always focused on the goal, perfect double-handed partner, both for your skill and human qualities.
- Domenico Caparrotti – for the initial rigging.
- Enrico Ciotti – friend and skipper of the short team, without you the boat wouldn’t have been ready in time.
- Andrea Fornaro – team manager and coach, your advice is as precious as your friendship.
- Paolo Giummarra (Sisail One Sicilia loft) – a great encounter.
- Giacomo Gonzi – long-time supporter, excellent advisor, and true friend.
- Giovanni Mengucci – for NKE electronics and 3D parts.
- Diego Morani – for developing the Quantum sail set.
- Mimmo Prospero, Marco Colella, Nando Barlone – top professionals, indispensable.
- Claudio Santi and his team – Libertine’s electrical and electronic installations are among the best.
- Diego Tisci – for the final rigging.
- Thanks also to JPK Composites, for building a fast, high-performing boat;
- to the Royal Malta Yacht Club, from the commodore to all volunteers, and especially Alana Meadows and Godwin Zammit for their friendship and support;
- to Lorenzo Zichichi, brother of the sea and great friend;
- to my friends, always supportive;
- to my children – Anastasia, Gilberto, and Daniele – and my sisters Lucia and Arianna, for their patience;
- and finally to Cinzia, the love of my life for 37 years, without whom none of this would be possible.
- I dedicate this victory to myself: after all this work, I think I truly earned it.
See you next year, for the next Middle, the next adventure.
Marco Paolucci
The JPK Composites teams congratulate Marco and Niccolo on their podium finish in the IRC double! The full results are available on the Middle Sea Race website, and if you want to learn more about the JPK 1180, click here.
