The sixth time-trial, three laps around Manoel Island, witnessed the first ever sub-50 minute timings with sea kayak. The new longer sea-kayaks did the job powered by the fast-improving David Galea and Joe Cremona. They were the fastest sea kayaks ever featured in these races.

Galea and Cremona, along with Gerald DeGaetano in his shorter sea-kayak, set off four minutes and five seconds behind Peter Zammit and Alex Rizzo with the latter competing for the first time in the handicap time-trial series.

Rizzo, who would normally have the edge given similar kayaks, had to work very hard in his slower canoe, to keep up with Zammit's 5.35m kayak.

Zammit and Rizzo had set off three minutes 58 seconds after Craig Wightman and Joe Borg.

It was Borg who led the field in the first lap, with Wightman saving as much energy as possible by hanging on to his wash.

Wightman then overtook his nearest rival just before the bridge, midway through the second lap with Borg valiantly attempting to keep in touch.

Meanwhile, Rizzo and Zammit were closing in on them as Galea and Cremona, who had left DeGaetano in their wake, were making fast inroads on the four canoeists ahead.

By the start of the third lap, Cremona and Galea had overtaken the whole field and continued to stamp their dominance with an ever increasing margin.

DeGaetano caught Rizzo and Zammit near the Yacht Yard and, a little later Borg and Wightman.

Despite his bold efforts, DeGaetano could not make inroads on the runaway pair who were home just over a minute on absolute time, recording impressive times of 49.7 (Galea) and 49.10 (Cremona) - personal bests by over two minutes for both.

DeGaetano also managed a personal best time, shaving off 16 seconds to record 50.17.

The most exciting part of the race was undoubtedly the sprint finish involving Wightman, Rizzo and Zammit.

Wightman was caught by the two some 100m away from the finishing line. He used all of his smooth sprinting style to try and haul them back only to finish a mere second behind Rizzo, whose time of 54.20 was an excellent showing indeed. Zammit had surged ahead at the very end to beat Rizzo by two seconds.

Wightman's 58.34 - his second best ever - beat Borg's time by 21 seconds.

The next race will be held on August 3 in Marsamxett harbour.