The Royal Malta Yacht Club’s beloved Twilight Series has returned with a fresh twist this summer, injecting new excitement into the midweek racing calendar. A long-standing tradition at the Club, the series offers sailors a fun yet fiercely competitive break from the workweek, and this year’s innovation has raised the stakes even further.
Adopting a Pursuit Racing format for the 2025 edition, the six-race series has been transformed into a thrilling contest of tactics, timing, and sheer determination. Unlike conventional regattas where all boats start simultaneously, the Pursuit format staggers start times based on each vessel’s handicap or rating. Slower boats set off first, with the faster ones chasing them down. The first to cross the finish line wins—simple, dramatic, and unpredictable.
Now halfway through the series, the leaderboard remains tantalisingly close. Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla Insurance holds a narrow lead, but JYS Jan, skippered by Claudio Bugeja of the Jarhead Young Sailors’ Foundation, and Charles Cronin’s Alecto are just two points adrift. With three races remaining, the title is still very much up for grabs, and the closing stages promise to deliver nail-biting finishes and fierce competition across the fleet.
But the action doesn’t stop at the finish line. True to the spirit of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, each race concludes at the Club’s iconic bar, where crews gather to swap stories, review performances, and share in the camaraderie that defines this event. Whether celebrating a win or raising a toast to good sailing, it’s the community atmosphere that keeps sailors coming back.
“The Twilight Series were always a popular event, however this year we decided to change the format in the hope of attracting a wider fleet,” said RMYC Committee Member Aaron Gatt Floridia. “The formula has worked because we’ve seen strong participation every Wednesday. And whether you’ve crossed the finish line first or last, the real magic of the event lies in the community spirit and shared love of the sport, as can be seen in the Club’s bar on Wednesday evenings.”
The next race in the Twilight Pursuit Series is scheduled for Wednesday 9 July. Sailors interested in joining can register via the Club’s website at this link. With the leaderboard wide open and momentum building, the race for the title is far from over.
