Just two seconds separated the winner from the runner-up in the Zhik Double Handed Figure of 8 Race, the closest finish in the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s recent history. The J/99 Calypso, sailed by Seb Ripard and Fabio Galea, pipped the First 45 Elusive 2 of the Podesta siblings, Christoph and Aaron, after 85 nautical miles.
With a strong south-easterly forecast, the front runners left the harbour mouth close together. Andrew Agius Delicata and Kevin Anastasi’s Reflex 38 Vivace, Elusive 2 and Calypso were all vying for the lead. Elusive 2 edged past Vivace at the Grand Harbour mouth, while Calypso crept up behind them.
A mishap aboard Vivace as they rounded Filfla forced them to retire, and the weather caused several more retirements, leaving four boats to complete the course. Winds reached 30 knots in the south of the island, where the Jarhead Foundation’s Jarhead, sailed by Patrice Pace and Alex Siegler, battled on to finish third.
“The double handed figure of eight is a real iconic event: the sailing is tough and the scenery spectacular. This year was an epic edition, with a south-easterly reaching 25–30 knots making for fun but scary sailing on the south coast. We cannot believe that it came down to a two-second difference on an 85 nautical mile course,” said Seb Ripard.
For Elusive 2, not hoisting a kite in the big waves was a deliberate choice. “The boat is not set up for short-handed sailing, so not hoisting a kite was a wise decision. We also wanted to save our energy for the tough upwind leg,” said Aaron Podesta, describing the race as “one of the best annual challenges”.
Trophies and Zhik merchandise were presented at the Royal Malta Yacht Club by Tom Ripard of RLR Yachting, the event sponsors. The Club thanked RLR Yachting and race officials Adrian Gauci Borda, Michaela Gauci Borda and Michelle Caruana.
