Seven clubs have registered to take part in today’s Freedom Day regatta at the Grand Harbour with the Marsa rowers seeking to maintain their dominance in this competition after lifting the March 31 Shield for the last three years.

In fact, Marsa are now leading the Freedom Day regatta all-time winners’ list with 11 successes, one more than Senglea and two better off than Cospicua.

Valletta club Marsamxett were first to put their name on the March 31 Shield after winning the inaugural races in 1979 when organisers introduced a new series to complement the more important Victory Day event on September 8.

Last year, Marsa topped the final March 31 regatta standings after accumulating 64 points from five races. Cospicua were a close second on 60 with Kalkara a distant third on 28 points.

The young rowers from Cospicua won the Category ‘B’ regatta, 10 points ahead of second-placed Vittoriosa, giving them hope that the club was on a sound basis for the future.

Marsa underlined the depth of their talent pool in September last year when making it a double after claiming the coveted Victory Day Shield and the title for youths.

There are 10 races on the card this afternoon with the programme starting at 12.30pm.