The Citadel Insurance plc Marzamemi Weekend Regatta, the first offshore race in the Royal Malta Yacht Club calendar for the season, again proved to be a huge success with a fleet of 25 boats taking part and testing their skills in what many described as perfect conditions for racing.
Entries were classified in three divisions and a cruising class.
Weather conditions for both races were ideal with constant winds that enabled most boats to fly towards Marzamemi with speeds reaching between 10 and 15 knots.
Boats left Marsamxett early on a Friday morning, setting off for the first passage race up, crossing the Malta-Sicily channel and finishing off in Marzamemi.
Jamie Sammut skippered Isomat Unica to the overall win in the race up to Sicily. The rest of the Isomat Unica crew were John Cachia, Joe Vassallo, Tony De-majo and Jeremy Gravina.
Elusive BOV finished just around a minute and a half ahead to claim line honours. However, Isomat Unica was declared winner on corrected time.
Day Two of the weekend saw crews congregating in the Marzamemi main square for a long afternoon of socialising and exchanging experiences before preparing boats for the race back to Malta the following day.
Favourable conditions were experienced at the start of the return leg even though the winds died down as crews started to reach Valletta.
This time the winning crew were those on board Kontiki with Ferdinand Grech as captain.
“For us this was one of the best regattas ever,” Grech said.
“Sailing to Sicily was superb with favourable wind direction. Conditions were perfect.
“We placed first in our class and fourth overall. Sailing back was also a great experience and we enjoyed every minute of it.
“Again, the weekend regatta was very well organised. We’re already looking forward to the next race.”
A prize-giving ceremony was held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in the presence of crews, families and friends and representatives of Citadel Insurance plc who presented the winners with trophies and prizes.
“With boats coming off the hard in time for this race, we are always pleased with the enthusiasm and competitive spirit that crews emit in these racing conditions,” Godwin Zammit, Royal Malta Yacht Club commodore, said.
“We are pleased with the interest that Citadel have shown and we’re also grateful for this partnership which has now been in place for a number of years.”
The RMYC Race Committee was assisted by members of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club.