The second race of the 2025 season was held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club on Saturday evening. The Thomas Smith Triple Handed Night Race was the main event of the night. The race was a challenge for the participants as they had to deal with light winds, a shifty breeze, and an easterly swell.
The course took them up the coast towards the tuna pens outside St. Paul’s Bay. This required them to navigate higher angles, frequently gybe, and face unpredictable wind conditions, especially near the fish farms. The team on board Vivace, consisting of Andrew Agius Delicata, Matthew Gabriele, and Daniel Amato, took an early lead by being the first to go around the fish farms in the dark. However, their progress was halted for an hour and a half due to lack of wind in the harbour. Even though they crossed the finish line first, they ended up in third place after time adjustments.
The team on Lartista (Anton Calleja, Renato Camilleri, and Jacob Azzopardi) claimed the top spot, despite a less than ideal start. They managed to regain positions as they approached the fish farms. Meanwhile, Juniper’s crew (Brian Flahive, Aaron Gatt Floridia, and André Marinho) made steady progress along the coast in light winds and eventually won the race.
In the Cruisers’ Class, Kon Tiki, led by Fernando Grech, Joseph Muscat, and Manuel Gatt, emerged victorious. Their strategic decision to stay further offshore paid off as they found steadier wind, allowing them to regain the lead despite some calm moments. Adrian Gauci Borda, Rear Commodore Sailing at RMYC, emphasised the importance of precision and teamwork in short-handed racing, as demonstrated by this event. The club expressed gratitude to Thomas Smith Insurance Brokers for their support.
The next event on the club’s racing calendar is the International Yacht Paint Gozo Weekend Regatta, scheduled from 28th to 31st March, which will feature a variety of events for both racing and cruising enthusiasts.
