The Wallyrocket 71 Django 7X has won the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race, with the Royal Malta Yacht Club confirming Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s yacht as the overall winner of the prestigious 47th edition. The announcement came at 12:00 CEST on 21 October in Valletta, Malta, after the RMYC determined that none of the remaining yachts still racing could better Django 7X’s IRC corrected time.
The victory secures the coveted Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy for Stronati and his crew, marking a significant achievement in one of offshore sailing’s most demanding competitions. Racing over a gruelling 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily, the team successfully navigated conditions renowned for complex weather patterns, challenging transitions, and relentless tactical demands.
The result reflects the combined efforts of an accomplished international crew aboard a highly competitive yacht, delivering an outstanding performance against a formidable fleet. The winning crew comprised Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, Andreas Axelsson, Nicholas Brezzi Villi, Giacomo Conti, Cecilia Zorzi, Chris Hosking, Grattan Roberts, Giulio Bertelli, Matteo Raviani, Michele Ivaldi, Michael Cochetti, Guillermo Parada, Pietro Mantovani, Ray Tomassetti, Ross Halcrow, Shannon Falcone, Bruno Zirilli, David Vera San Luis, and Vasco Vascotto.
A full report on Django 7X’s victory in the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race will follow this announcement.
