Regatta boats on the starting line

Colourful boats can be seen early evenings at Senglea where members of the various clubs taking part in the Victory Day Regatta on Wednesday congregate.

They turn up with binoculars and stop watches, waiting patiently for their teams to row their way down the Grand Harbour before turning around and pushing themselves to the limit to set a good time for the 1.4-kilometre dash to Customs House on the Valletta side.

Around the corner from Senglea Point, in the reigning champions Senglea’s boathouse the final preparations are under way, with bright red L-Isla (the Maltese name for Senglea) stickers being carefully mounted to the side of a four-man boat.

Towards the back of the boathouse a boy, no older than seven, is checking his position in the fregatina, which he will be steering in the race, before eagerly slipping his lifejacket on.

A club member admits it is difficult to find keen children to steer a fregatina. Whereas the other boats have a rower standing and steering, the fregatina has two seated rowers facing backwards, thus making the youngster’s role in the race vital, having to correctly steer the boat against changing wind directions. It is often the young driver who can win a race for the team.