The final regatta of the 2016 Mapfre Middlesea Cup earlier this month had a nail-biting finale after two days of racing that also produced plenty of surprises.

The three-event cup, organised by J-70 Association Malta and the Royal Malta Yacht Club, amply showed that the future of one-design racing here is bright, with a whole host of motivated and talented young teams eager to compete.

Seven teams were engaged in a tight regatta on Day One.

Each vying to catch the best winds under dark skies off Fort St Elmo, team BBSC RLR emerged as the early front-runners overall.

Ideal sailing conditions transformed Marsamxett Harbour into a perfect arena for the final showdown on Day Two.

Throughout the afternoon, spectators on shore were able to follow all 12 qualifying races and the three deciders closely via a live-stream video link at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in Ta’ Xbiex.

Several near collisions, ever-shifting winds and, at one point, the appearance of the rule book to settle a dispute added to the drama.

Team Sail Coach also made a surprise appearance in the league.

The Irish crew, skippered by Alex Denisuc, were here for training and immediately plunged into the spirit of things.

With an average age of just 17, they shook up the scoreboard and applied fresh pressure by seizing first place in the final qualifiers.

With the wind dying but the atmosphere out on the water increasingly tense, the last race of the cup offered only one more chance to gain points for finalists Sail Coach, Calypso, X-pact and Mapfre Middlesea.

As penalties flew and strategic risks were calculated, Sail Coach emerged winners ahead of Calypso and X-pact.

Overall Malta League winners – MYSC Calypso – qualified for the Sailing Champions League.

Led by Benji Borg, the crew will race in St Petersburg, in August.

Thanks to the support of Mapfre Middlesea and Yachting Malta, the Calypso crew will have entry fees and flights sponsored.