Day Three of the 2015 Royal Malta Yacht Club Match Racing Winter Series was held last weekend with a light to moderate westerly breeze and rain holding back just long enough to allow the three competing teams to race each other twice at Marsamxett Harbour.

Ray Condachi and his team, made up of Adrian Gauci Borda, Mark Camilleri and Fabio Galea, won three of the four matches, losing out to the crew under the helm of newcomer Patrick Vassallo.

In fact, Vassallo’s team were the only ones to spoil Condachi’s unbeaten record in the series so far.

“Match Racing is really exciting,” Vassallo said.

“It pits two equally matched boats against each other and what wins is ultimately the skill of the crew and the skipper working together.

“Tactics, coupled with technique, are essential. It is very clear that we are new to match racing, which is different to fleet racing and what’s more, we are racing against very experienced crews.

“However, the organisers are really great. We have been debriefed after every race, given an explanation as to what happens during the races, where we went wrong and where we could have improved.

“As a team we have all really enjoyed it... it is fast, intensive and exhilarating.

“I think we will be back next year”.

The overall results still show Condachi’s team leading ahead of David Anastasi’s crew, both teams suffering just one loss with Condachi having sailed more races.

The narrow margin between the top two teams promises to present some hard-fought competition in the next three races, with Anastasi’s team trying to return to the International Etchells Invitational Regatta for a second time and Condachi’s determination to keep his lead on the scoreboard.

The next day of the winter series will be on March 7.

The Leaderboard