Yacht Club presses for new premises deal

If an agreement on the new premises of the Royal Malta Yacht Club is not reached within a few weeks, it could mean a "logistical disaster" for next year's Rolex Middle Sea Race and other sailing events, club commodore Georges Bonello Du Puis has warned.

"We are risking not having the facilities for the next RMSR!"

Still on a high in the wake of the successful regatta, the club wanted to know: "Where to now?"

The tripartite agreement - between the government, the RMYC and Midi - would mark the end of a six-year saga, involving a spate of ministries, on the relocation of the club from Fort Manoel.

It would mean that the club could start building its temporary marina, which would cater for at least 100 boats, including Maxi yachts, and which was imperative to host the next RMSR.

"We only managed to host this year's event because the superyacht Pelorus was at the drydocks, freeing up the quay at Manoel Island. What if it is here next year?

"The marina is our aim and the RMYC committee's sole priority now. Funding, permits, excavation and building of the club cannot be done in a year, but we have to have the marina in place by next year.

"We have 11 months to complete the works and every minute counts," said Mr Bonello Du Puis, still riding the crest of a successful race that has established itself internationally, but unable to sit back and not plan ahead.

"The longer we take to sign the agreement, the less time we have to get the marina going."

This year, the RMSR attracted a record number of 68 boats, which had to be spread over the various harbours. "It is not good for an event to have everyone scattered; logistically, it makes sense to have everyone in the same place, and even the sponsors are affected," Mr Bonello Du Puis maintained.

But the marina was also vital for the other sailing events that the RMYC organises, which were growing from year to year, he continued.

The stumbling block to the signing of the agreement, according to the commodore, was the conditions Midi was laying down on the running of the club, which the latter refused to adhere to.

The demands, which Mr Bonello Du Puis said included the fact that only members could dine at the club, were considered to be "unacceptable, petty and interfering. They were, basically, against any commercial activity, which was what allowed it to survive," he said.

"We want our club to be unrestricted like any other sports association, and not regulated even as regards noise levels and what kind of events we hold there. We agree that there should be certain clauses, but we should not be pressed on the commercialisation of the project in the fear that we would be competing with one of Midi's outlets when they eventually open on Manoel Island.

"The yacht club's catering arm cannot survive on members only. That of the Marsa Sports Club would not survive on its few thousands of members, let alone the hundreds at the RMYC!

"We are trying to find terms that are suitable to us and Midi. Once the memorandum of understanding is signed, we will go to our members to show them what we have achieved over the past six years. If they agree, the yacht club will sign an agreement with the Roads and Urban Development Ministry, then the issue will go to Parliament."

Mr Bonello Du Puis quoted Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi as saying at the prize-giving ceremony of the RMSR on Saturday that he had listened, heard them and would do his utmost to assist the club in its relocation problems.

The north shore of Manoel Island, facing Sliema Ferries, has been identified as the location for the new club, the design of which has been approved by Midi.

"Time is of the essence, and we are in limbo because we cannot really start applying for permits, until we accept the agreement. Midi is submitting its outline development permit for the north shore area of Manoel Island, but we have not signed yet, so we cannot submit ours."

It was never possible to keep the current location - the stunning Fort Manoel, which has caught the eye and appeal of many a sailor from every corner of the globe, Mr Bonello Du Puis admitted. But the first proposal, which had no outdoor space, a limited frontage and no parking, was not acceptable either.

The planned premises, designed by architect Anton Valentino, would not have the historic charm of the fort, but it would have the facilities and the possibility of a marina, which the current location did not enjoy.

Moreover, Midi has agreed that the RMSR would still start from the usual breathtaking spot in front of the fort. The club was grateful for this.

The new club, the site of which was identified by Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett and which is on the water, is estimated to cost about Lm500,000, Lm100,000 of which would be funded by the government.

"Its frontage stretches about 80 metres, it would have spacious terraces, a restaurant, bar, gym, conference and briefing rooms, massive parking, outdoor and storage space - the works!"

The importance of having a state-of-the-art club cannot be underestimated, Mr Bonello Du Puis said.

The spin-offs of the RMSR, which was growing every year, are "incredible", he continued, listing hotel accommodation, chandleries, Air Malta, the club itself, among those that benefited from it.

"I wouldn't know where to start from... This year, we had the best boats in the world and the best skippers - four from the six who participated in the Volvo Ocean Race!"