The Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Team was officially launched on Wednesday 21st December, when the livery of the Cookson 50 Viva Malta was unveiled at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub. The launch was presided over by Hon. Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, and Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, and the boat was blessed by Mons. Victor Grech.
“This was a dream of Yachting Malta, to spearhead a project whereby Malta will have its own offshore sailing project to compete in the international offshore circuit. We firmly believe that this project stands to promote Malta as a centre of excellence in yachting,” said Yachting Malta CEO Michael Mifsud.
Minister Farrugia said the project ties in with the regeneration of the Grand Harbour area and the National Yachting Policy being drawn up with stakeholders. Minister Grima said: “In this case we are giving our support to sportsmen and a sports discipline that has registered great progress in these last years. I hope that through this initiative we will record more successes, both on a personal basis for the sportsmen involved as well as on a national scale.”
Yachting Malta Chairman Jonathan Borg recalled that Maltese boats have won nine editions of the 606 nautical mile Rolex Middle Sea Race, and that the project, an investment of around €400,000 proposed by Yachting Malta with the Government’s full support, was a natural progression of that expertise. Yachting Malta now passes the Viva Malta baton to SportMalta, which will manage the project with the Malta Sailing Federation.
Photo Credit: Sebio Aquilina
