Women take the helm as Steering the Course wraps its fourth edition in Malta

Tanya Bonnici and Marita Grech took the top honours among skippers and sailors respectively at the fourth edition of Steering the Course – Women in Sailing, hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Vikings Sailing Club as part of Yachting Malta Race Week.

The World Sailing initiative, which aims to bring more women into the sport, again drew a full complement of participants. For the first time since it started locally, the organising team and the race committee were made up entirely of women.

Over three afternoon sessions, newcomers sailed alongside experienced women taking on the role of skipper. They progressed from rigging on land to practising starts in Marsamxett Harbour, and finally to four windward/leeward races on boats they had rigged themselves. Sailors were encouraged to swap boats to experience different styles of racing, and although most were new to the sport, the racing was closely fought.

In line with both clubs’ Sustainability Compass, participants brought their own water bottles to avoid single-use plastics, and no anchors were used to lay the marks, protecting the seabed.

Prizes were presented by the two Commodores, Mark Napier of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Sandra Agius Darmanin of Vikings Sailing Club, and every participant received a certificate. The organisers thanked Yachting Malta, Boost, Camilleri Marine and Clarach Ltd for their support.