With just fifteen days to go, final preparations for the first RC44 Valletta Cup are in full swing.
During a press conference held this morning at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the official programme of events was announced by Mr. Niki Travers Tauss, representing Yachting Events, the organisers of the RC44 Valletta Cup. Also present was the Honourable Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, who’s ministry is also co-hosting the event with the support of the Malta Tourism Authority and Transport Malta.
The RC44 Valletta Cup will be the first race from the 2105 RC44 Championship Tour and will join a family of prestigious locations hosting this event – Porto Cervo, Italy, Marstrand, Sweden, Cascais, Portugal and finishing off in the British Virgin Islands. The race will bring together the worlds of sailing and business allowing amateur owner-drivers, most of whom are top international business men, team up with world class sailors to race on high performance one design yachts.
The RC44 Valletta Cup, to be held between the 25th and 29th March will consist of a series of races, the first of which consisting of a Match Race on the 25th March. The remaining days will see Fleet Racing take place. Match Racing will take place in the Grand Harbour which, through the support of Transport Malta, will be closed specifically for this event. Fleet racing will be held along the Tigne – St. Julian’s seafront, with the possibility of a coastal race heading towards Gozo being organised, depending on weather conditions.
“The RC44 Valletta Cup will be hosting a veritable who’s who of sailing crews – from America’s Cup veterans to a handful of Olympic medallists, the RC44 Valletta Cup promises to offer Malta an impressive week of racing.” said Niki Travers Tauss, director, Yachting Events. “The RC44 Valletta Cup will be visible from a number of locations, such as the Upper Barakka and Senglea for Match Racing and the Sliema sea front for Fleet Racing which will enable the general public to experience the race in close proximity”
The RC44 boats, which have been in Malta since the end of December, have been undergoing maintenance in preparation for this race. Some of the boats have since been moved into the Technical Area which is based on Pinto Wharf. The rest of the boats will be moved to the Technical Area in the coming days. Minister Cardona said that Malta will enjoy tremendous visibility during this event and that it is hoped that this will boost the economy further since global exposure leads to investment.
“We hope this will be the start of a new relationship, with the RC44 Class coming back again. Certainly, we are going to continue developing Malta as a luxury location. The White Rocks development is already on the drawing board. The facilities to be created the will be the byword for luxury “ said Minister Cardona. “we know that the Maltese economy is performing well. inflation is low, banks are sound, in vestment is flowing in and we have high levels of employment – but we must always do better” continued Cardona.
The Press Conference was also addressed by Mr. Peter Valentino, one of the Directors from Yachting Events Ltd the organisers of the RC44 Valletta Cup, Mrs. Anna Rossi, President of the Malta Sailing Federation, Mr. Godwin Zammit, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club under who’s auspices this event is being held.
More information on the RC44 Valletta Cup can be obtained by visiting www.yachtingevents.com.mt as well as the event Facebook page www.facebook.com/RC44VallettaCup
(L) to (R) – Mrs Anna Rossi, President of the Malta Sailing Federation, Mr. Peter Valentino, Director, Yachting Events, Hon. Minister Dr. Christian Cardona, Mr. Niki Travers Tauss, Director, Yachting Events, Mr. Godwin Zammit, Commodore, Royal Malta Yacht Club
Photo Courtesy: Department of Information
