Malta team fifth on first day of BMW Sailing Cup final

The Maltese team currently competing in the BMW Sailing Cup final in Valencia, Spain, has finished fifth overall after the first day races on Friday. The races, in which 1,400 amateur sailors from seven nations are taking part, end today.

The boat sailed by all participants is the Bénéteau First Class 7.5.

Malta placed after the UK, Germany, Spain and Austria and ahead of Italy and Denmark.

In the first of four races Malta actually came first but was disqualified due to a false start. The national team came second in the second race, and fifth in the third and fourth races.

The Malta team, who were sent to Valencia after winning the local BMW Sailing Cup held in Malta last July, is made up of John Ripard, André Rossignaud, Peter Valentino, David Anastasi and Jamie Sammut.

The BMW Sailing Cup is an international regatta series of amateurs. In professional sailing the BMW Oracle Racing team has made a name for itself in the competition for the legendary America's Cup.

All participants in the BMW Sailing Cup will subsequently have the opportunity to experience the first regatta day of the Louis Vuitton Cup at the BMW Oracle Racing team base.

The ultimate aim of this racing series is to determine the challenger of the America's Cup title defender Alinghi. BMW Oracle Racing is among the favourites.