Jubatus sets new Malta to Marzamemi race record

Sean Borg’s Cape 31 Jubatus smashed the Malta to Marzamemi race record at the International Yacht Paint Marzamemi Weekend, completing the 60 nautical mile course in 5 hours, 48 minutes and 54 seconds. The previous record of 6 hours, 10 minutes and 17 seconds had been held by Strait Dealer since 2009.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club welcomed a diverse fleet of racing and cruising yachts for the passage from Marsamxett Harbour to one of its favourite Sicilian haunts, from Andre Rossignaud’s 110ft Wally Barong D to Mark Camilleri’s J/92 Pep. Race Officer Jonathan Sammut started the IRC Racers and IRC Cruisers first, with the RMYC Cruisers five minutes later.

The race started in a fresh force 5 north-westerly with a moderate swell. As the leaders approached Capo Passero, gusts reached 30 knots. “The start was a perfect beam reach in 15 knots, and in the last hour before Capo Passero the wind was gusting 30 knots, perfect conditions for Jubatus, although the last leg to the finish was tough and the boat very difficult to control. We are thrilled at having beaten such a long-standing record,” said skipper Sean Borg.

In the RMYC Cruisers, the father-and-son crew of Matthew and Seb Miceli Demajo took line honours on Code Zero. At just eleven, Seb was the youngest sailor in the race and is set to represent Malta at the Optimist World Championships. They were pipped on corrected time by Paul Ellul’s Lucy X. Light winds on the return leg meant no boat could finish within the time limit, and the fleet retired.

“Despite the weather preventing the fleet from completing the journey home, the leg to Marzamemi certainly compensated for it. Witnessing Jubatus establish a new course record was truly special,” said Adrian Gauci Borda, Rear Commodore (Sailing). Prizes were presented in the presence of Andrew Magri Overend, Group CEO of MacMed Group, representatives of International Yacht Paint in Malta.

Photo Credit: RMYC / Alex Turnbull