The Malta Sailing Federation updated a full house of sailors at the Royal Malta Yacht Club on the progress of the Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Team, the project conceived by Yachting Malta and the Federation.
Federation President Michael Mifsud, RMYC Commodore David Cremona and offshore racer and Federation mentor Christian Ripard led the meeting. Cremona explained how the RMYC and Yachting Malta work as a joint venture and how the collaboration with the Federation began.
Viva Malta, the Cookson 50 bought late in 2021, is undergoing maintenance at the Malta Maritime Hub and will be launched in its Viva Malta livery, ready for on-water training, in October. “Apart from giving Malta a great opportunity for international exposure, Viva Malta will allow local offshore sailors to race at a global level, in some of the world’s most prestigious races,” said Mifsud.
The Federation is building a database of interested sailors and assessing their capabilities. Crew will take part voluntarily, with participation costs covered, and the project will be funded as a national sport project under SportMalta, covering travel, accommodation and entry fees. Christian Ripard, Malta’s foremost offshore sailor, brings a wealth of expertise on the Cookson 50 and stressed that it is no average boat and will demand a great deal of training.
