What should have been a showcase of tradition rowing in Grand Harbour became a day of frustration for crews and supporters. The opening race was scheduled for 1pm, yet the first start did not take place before 3pm. From there the timetable slipped by around six hours and the programme closed after 8pm, when visibility across parts of the course was very low and safety became a real concern.
Two early issues set the tone. The Armed Forces official tasked with firing the starting signal on Ras il-Ħanżir could not do so because no blanks were available so he had to call his colleagues to deliver empty blanks and hand them over to the start. Reports also indicated that the starting line had been set incorrectly, leaving lane 1 on the Valletta side at a disadvantage. This was being alleged mainly by one Marsamxett delegate who was seeing that the Women’s Frejgatina crew positioned in 1 was too tight for the boat to pass comfortably. On the other hand the technical commission was insisting that the start line was aligned correctly.
Stoppages punctuated the afternoon. Beyond the handful of false starts that often occur at this event, the schedule stalled before the Category B medals race to allow the Rafusa catamaran to exit Grand Harbour. Each pause added minutes to an already congested running order and the knock on effect was felt between races as crews were kept waiting on the water.
Spectators and participants took to social media to criticise the handling of the day. Many noted that young coxswains spent close to two hours on thee women’s frejgatini under the sun before meaningful racing began. As delays piled up, rowers competing in more than one event were left with shorter recovery time, compounding fatigue and raising welfare questions.
Notably, Shazel Grima and Glynnis Mizzi took the decision now to row when the women’s Fejgatini eventually took off. Yesterday morning both rowers took on their social media to make their complaints public.
By evening, the delayed timetable collided with fading light. The conclusion after 8pm unfolded in very poor visibility, increasing risk for competitors and officials and inviting serious questions about race management and safety cover.
A national showpiece requires reliable equipment, clear procedures, and a timetable that protects athletes and officials. The issues around the starting procedure, the alignment of the start line, harbour traffic management, and the late finish now demand a transparent review, clear accountability, and practical fixes before the regatta returns.
