Successful Citadel Marzamemi Weekend Regatta

The first offshore race for Royal Malta Yacht Club crews was a success which fully justified the Club’s decision to postpone the race a couple of weeks before due to bad weather. Supported by Citadel Insurance plc, the Marzamemi Weekend Regatta is one of the Club’s most popular and competitive races on its calendar.

A fleet of twenty five boats, split in three racing classes and the Club cruising class, left Marsamexett Harbour early on a Friday morning, setting off for the first passage race up, crossing the Malta-Sicily Channel and finishing off in Marzamemi.

Jamie Sammut, skipper of Isomat Unica, Overall Winner in the race up to Marzamemi remarked – “We took the risk of starting with a code 0 to make sure we stay with the big boats. Twenty miles away from Malta the wind started picking up to 18 – 20 knots. The wind backed a couple of degrees and hoisted the kite, the boat was flying towards Marzamemi doing between 10 – 15 knots. Elusive BOV who was close to us finished just around a minute and a half ahead to claim line honours, however we managed to beat them on corrected time. A big well done goes to the crew John Cachia, Joe Vassallo, Tony Demajo, Jeremy Gravina for the hard work and great teamwork”

The picturesque seaside village of Marzamemi comes to life with the arrival of Maltese gang. After all the excitement and adrenaline experience in the race up, Saturday sees crews congregating in the piazza for a long afternoon of socialising, exchanging jokes and experiences before preparing their boats for the passage race down to Malta on the Sunday.

Weather conditions for both races were billed as perfect, with constant winds that enabled most boats to fly towards Marzamemi with speeds reaching between 10 – 15 knots. Similar conditions were experienced at the start of the race back to Malta with winds dying down as crews starting to reach Malta.

Speaking after the race Ferdinand Grech, Kontiki Skipper, enthused – “For my crew and I, it was one of the best regattas I have ever participated in, sailing up was fantastic perfect wind and wind direction and we have placed first in our class and forth overall. Sailing down was also a very good experience and have also enjoyed every minute of it. As usual the race was very well organized, thumbs up to the committee. A very big well done and thank you to Citadel Insurance, all participants and organizers alike. Looking forward to the next race” KonTiki won the Overall Class in the passage race down to Malta.

A prize giving ceremony was held later on at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in the presence of crews, families and friends and representatives of Citadel Insurance plc who presented the winners of the various categories with their prizes.

“With boats coming off the hard in time for this race, we are always pleased with the enthusiasm and competitive spirit that crews emit in these racing conditions” commented Godwin Zammit, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. “We are also pleased with the interest that Citadel Insurance plc has shown towards this race, and are grateful for this partnership which has now been in place for a number of years”.

The Race Committee was assisted by members of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club who flew in purposely to assist in the Citadel Marzamemi Weekend Regatta.

Results