MTA sponsors top racing yacht

The Malta Tourism Authority is sponsoring one of the top racing yachts in UK waters, PumaLogic - the RORC Yacht of the Year for 2009.

This year, the boat , which is managed by the yachting company Sailing Logic, will be racing under her new name Visit Malta Puma. Her extensive racing calendar kicked off with the Warsash Spring Series on March 14, in which she scored a second place in Black Group IRC2.

Her programme also includes the Round Ireland Race, Cork Week, Cowes Week and seven RORC offshore races.

"There are many synergies between the Malta Tourism Authority's objectives and Sailing Logic's activities, not least that Malta hosts one of the World's premier offshore racing events - the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Over the next 12 months Visit Malta Puma will attract a large amount of media interest in the UK and Ireland. As the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 'Yacht of the Year' the team aboard the yacht will create significant brand exposure promoting Malta as a leading European tourist destination in both the UK and Ireland," the MTA said.

Alex Incorvaja, Director UK and Ireland, said this had been an obvious choice, particularly since the yacht was competing in prestigious races such as Round Ireland and Cork week.

"This gives us an excellent platform to promote the destination to a relative untapped audience, giving us further coverage to Malta's extensive marketing and promotional activities on this most important source market.. Visit Malta Puma has already secured editorial features and coverage in the leading UK yachting press including Yachting World and Yachts and Yachting. The Financial Times sailing correspondent, Richard Donkin will sail aboard Visit Malta Puma for part of the season providing some excellent coverage.'