Water sports prove popular

The introduction of water sports in SkolaSajf during summer has been a successful experiment, the parliamentary secretary for youth and sport, Jesmond Mugliett said yesterday during a visit to students attending a sailing course at the Viking Sailing Club at Haywharf.

Over 100 youngsters are attending the 10-week sailing course at the club, which is an accredited training centre for SkolaSajf. Sailing activities for young people are also held at Birzebbuga.

Mr Mugliett said that courses related to water sports were introduced four years ago and had proved to be very popular, especially sailing.

He said this popularity stemmed from the fact that youngsters looked at this sport with enthusiasm and had the opportunity to join a club and also because of the dedication of the Viking Club members.

Some 250 children attend various other sports activities, including swimming, canoeing, windsurfing and triathlon as part of SkolaSajf.

Mr Mugliett said many young people took sailing very seriously and some of them moved on from sailing in dinghies to sailing yachts.

Mr Mugliett also stressed the importance of sport, saying it complemented studies rather than hindered them.

The parliamentary secretary was welcomed at the Vikings Sailing Club by Charles Vella, club Commodore, and other members.

The Viking Sailing Club, set up by the late Hector Borg Carbott and friends in 1984, is one of the most active clubs in Malta.

It has over 200 members ranging from children to people in their 80s. Its calendar of events includes long distance adventure cruises, racing and international competitions as well as sail training courses for beginners and intermediate sailors among other activities.

The cruising section of the club was set up in 1996 to cater for club members who have graduated from dinghies to the larger sailing yachts.

The club's youth section organises a number of activities including sailing expeditions, night sailing, swimming and fishing expeditions as well as camping, cycling, abseiling, hiking and social events.

The club is based at the Nautical School in Haywharf and recently obtained use of additional rooms enabling it to create a hall to be used for educational lectures, meetings and social activities.

A single annual membership fee is Lm5; Lm8 for a family.

The Vikings Sailing Club is now looking forward to the 'Sailing Experience' at the Sliema Ferries on September 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in aid of the Children's Cancer Fund.

The national sailing championships will be held there on September 28 and 29.