From Whitstable to the Rolex Middle Sea Race
This October, SY Cormorant will become the first yacht from Whitstable to compete in one of the world's most prestigious offshore sailing events. Join us — and put your brand on the journey.
A yacht with local roots and a global ambition
The Rolex Middle Sea Race
For us, this is about more than entering a race. It is about taking a boat, a crew and a business with deep roots in Whitstable and putting them on an international stage.
The Rolex Middle Sea Race starts in Valletta, Malta on 17 October 2026, bringing together some of the best sailors, yachts and teams from around the world. The 606-nautical-mile course takes competitors around Sicily, through the Strait of Messina, past Stromboli and around the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa before returning to Malta.
For SY Cormorant, the journey starts much closer to home.
It starts in Whitstable.
606nm
Race distance
17 Oct
Start — Valletta, Malta 2026
1st
Yacht from Whitstable to compete
52ft
Flagship of the Sea Stays fleet
From Whitstable Harbour to the Mediterranean
Whitstable has always been a town shaped by the sea.
Its harbour, fishing heritage and sailing community are part of what makes the town unique. For generations, the water has been central to life here, and that connection continues today through the people and businesses who work on, around and alongside the sea.
Cormorant is proud to be part of that community.
Our company, Sea Stays, was founded on a love for time spent on the water and sailing with friends and as a crew we'll be taking that ethos on to an international stage.
This race gives us the opportunity to bring those two worlds together.
A local yacht. A local team. A global race.
And we want local and like-minded businesses to be part of the story.
Why partner with Cormorant?
The strongest partnerships are built around shared values. Whether your business is already part of the marine industry or simply shares our enthusiasm for the sea, there is an opportunity to tell a story that goes beyond traditional sponsorship.
A local story, told globally
Local businesses can be part of a Whitstable story that reaches an international audience.
Community & heritage
Become a part of a story filled with community values and a long history of local maritime heritage.
Be part of Whitstable history
There are plenty of yachts competing in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
There will only be one that can say it came from Whitstable.
We want to make Cormorant's campaign something that the local sailing community, businesses and wider Whitstable community can be proud of. From the harbour on the Kent coast to the start line in Valletta, this is a chance to take a little piece of Whitstable with us.
And we'd like you to come along for the journey.
Put your brand on the journey
We have created a range of sponsorship opportunities, from supporting the campaign as a Bronze Partner through to becoming the Title Sponsor of SY Cormorant.
Bronze Partner
£750
- Company logo featured on Cormorant's boom
- Mentions across our social media throughout the campaign
- Inclusion in our race preview and race review articles
Silver Partner
£1,250
Everything included in Bronze, plus:
- Logo displayed on crew clothing and hull
- Featured sponsor profile on the company website
- Dedicated social media feature
- Thank-you post following the race
Gold Partner
£2,500
Everything included in Silver, plus:
- Prominent branding on the yacht throughout the campaign
- Dedicated email feature to the company database
- Priority placement across race-related content
Title Sponsor
£5,000
Everything included in Gold, plus:
- Brand referenced across media engagements before, during and after the event
- Large-scale lettering on Cormorant's hull
- Branded caps worn by the crew where practical
- Opportunity to provide promotional material, products or equipment for use during the campaign
Looking for a custom sponsorship package? Set your own amount using the sponsorship form.
Become a sponsor
Sponsorship for Cormorant's campaign is handled securely by Marine Accounts. Choose your package, tell us a little about your business, and complete your sponsorship through their secure online payment.
You will be taken to the Marine Accounts website to complete your details and payment.