Sweden’s Ulf Myrin (ILCA 6) and Italy’s Roberto Bini (ILCA 7) won the Yachting Malta EurILCA Masters, a regatta shaped by unseasonal weather that allowed five races per class over two of the three days.
On Friday, gusts of up to 28 knots and heavy swell outside Marsamxett Harbour forced the race committee onto a shortened course inside the harbour, in view of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, before Race Officer Peter Dimech called the fleet in. Saturday was lost to the weather.
Sunday brought a north-easterly straight into the harbour, gusting 16 to 19 knots. The ILCA 7s made up their missed race with three quick windward/leeward races, and Grand Master Bini held on to win by a single point from Giuseppe Cavalli. The ILCA 6s managed two more races before the wind rose to about 24 knots and a heavy downpour ended the day. Grand Master Myrin kept first place, three points ahead of Ireland’s Sean Craig and Great Grand Master Walt Spevak of the USA.
“The weather conditions were far more challenging than expected, particularly for this time of year; however, all in all it was a successful event and we are pleased to receive such positive feedback from the international participants,” said Yachting Malta Chairman John Huber. The RMYC thanked SailCoach and the volunteer race officials.
