The Royal Malta Yacht Club recently held a Dinghy Regatta featuring races on the Club’s RS Quest dinghies, known for their user-friendly design and suitability for a wide range of sailing abilities. The event introduced a fresh format aimed at encouraging both competition and participation in a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere.
Organisers explained that the event was conceived to bring together family and friends in an inclusive environment, prioritising enjoyment while maintaining the thrill of competition. The combination of experienced sailors and newcomers contributed to a vibrant dynamic on the water, with spectators and fellow participants onshore offering enthusiastic support throughout.
Due to the high level of participation, crews were divided into two groups. The initial stage of the regatta spanned two days and consisted of qualifying rounds. The top three teams from each group moved on to the Final Series, while the rest competed in the Consolation Series.
In Group 1, Sebastian and Olivia Ripard stood out, with young Olivia—aged six—being the youngest participant. The duo won eight out of ten races. Jake Azzopardi and Michaela Gauci Borda followed closely, securing second place with consistent performances and 10 points. Camille Legroux and Seda Shahmuradyan rounded out the top three with 17 points.
Group 2 saw a tight finish, with Gary Mercieca and Clara Farrugia narrowly claiming first place with 18 points—just one ahead of Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia, who finished second. Third place went to Vinicius Degrave and Nicole Zemoz, who accumulated 21 points.
The Final Series concluded with Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia emerging as overall winners, having achieved two victories and a fourth-place finish. Sebastian and Olivia Ripard placed second, three points behind the leaders, while Gary Mercieca and Clara Farrugia secured third, just one point further back.
In the Consolation Series, Peter and Karen Micallef were declared the winners, finishing three points ahead of runners-up Claudio Bugeja and Chiara Scerri Herrera.
The prize-giving ceremony was held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, where trophies were presented by the Club’s Honorary Treasurer, Mark Vella.
Rear Commodore (Sailing) Adrian Gauci Borda expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that although the format was a relatively new one for the Club, the strong level of engagement from participants was very encouraging. He added that the structure of the event had enabled all crews to enjoy ample racing, regardless of their final placement.
The Club also expressed appreciation to Race Officer Adrian Gauci Borda and his team—Michelle Caruana, Carina Galicka, Manuel Gatt, and Neity Maddock—for their role in ensuring the event ran smoothly.
