(Reuters) – Hong Kong tycoon Lee Seng Huang’s yacht Scallywag 100 crossed the finish line of the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race on Tuesday morning to become the first monohull vessel to complete the challenging course.
The supermaxi finished the 606-nautical-mile offshore race, which starts and finishes in Valletta, Malta, in two days, 21 hours, 33 minutes, and 29 seconds to claim Monohull Line Honours — a prize awarded to the fastest monohull to cross the finish line, irrespective of its handicap rating or “corrected time”.
While securing Line Honours is a significant achievement, it does not guarantee overall victory. The overall winner of the Middle Sea Race will be determined based on corrected time, which factors in a yacht’s handicap, allowing smaller or slower boats to compete fairly with larger, faster vessels.
The race, known for its challenging course around Sicily, attracts a global fleet and is considered one of the premier offshore regattas, alongside the Fastnet and Sydney Hobart Yacht Races.
Skippered by Australian David Witt, Scallywag is a supermaxi, or high-performance racing yacht typically measuring 100 feet or more.
The yacht had been among the favourites to finish first in the monohull class, contending with variable Mediterranean weather conditions and strong competition from other top-tier entries.
The Middle Sea Race was first held in 1968, founded by members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Its circular course starts and finishes in Malta and passes two active volcanoes — Mount Etna and Stromboli.
(Reporting by: Ossian Shine; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content.