Challenging conditions and fresh faces mark successful return of Marzamemi Regatta

The Royal Malta Yacht Club’s annual Marzamemi Regatta made a welcome return earlier this month, delivering a weekend of racing that tested crews on patience, perseverance, and tactical decision-making.

The opening leg from Malta to Marzamemi was marked by light and unpredictable winds, forcing crews into frequent sail changes and on-the-spot strategy calls. Several boats were unable to complete the leg, with the slow pace setting the tone for a race that favoured consistency over speed. The return to Marsamxett required even more tactical awareness, as competitors sought out fleeting pockets of wind to carry them home.

While Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla Insurance claimed victory on the outward leg and Stefan Debattista’s Geisha won the return, it was Jubatus, skippered by Sean Borg, that took the overall title. Their back-to-back second-place finishes on corrected time were enough to secure the top spot, with the added bonus of line honours in both directions.

Despite having limited time to train together and a completely new crew on board, Borg praised the team’s composure under pressure:
“We had multiple issues due to the lack of experience sailing together, but made it to the finish line first. Through all the action on board and the wind holes, we kept it together for another successful Marzamemi weekend.”

Runner-up Jarhead, the J109 operated by the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation and skippered by Gary Mercieca, featured a young, largely female crew. Mercieca described the first leg as “very tactical”, with a timely wind shift playing to their advantage. The return race, he added, “was very technical and rewarded good trim and the ability to maintain boat speed.”

Time Out, skippered by Mario Sant, echoed the sentiment on the weekend’s conditions:
“The race up was a real test of patience and perseverance. But the highlight was spending three days with good friends and being competitive against young blood.”

In the Cruisers’ Class, Janissah, skippered by Mario Debono, made an impressive comeback after retiring from the first leg. The team regrouped and won their class on the return journey, buoyed by a crew that combined seasoned sailors and enthusiastic newcomers—including Giulia Orlando, racing for the first time.

The 2024 edition saw a healthy influx of new participants, with several boats competing in their first RMYC event. Among them was Mareamore³, a 40-foot RM1260 co-skippered by Ugo Vinti and Federico Saccani. Sailing double-handed and as a team for the first time, they won both the RMYC Class and the Double-Handed Category.

“We couldn’t have hoped for a better debut,” said Vinti. “The race was well organised, and the friendly environment among crews made it a truly memorable experience.”

The weekend concluded with a prize-giving ceremony on the RMYC rooftop, where Commodore Mark Napier and Rear Commodore (Sailing) Adrian Gauci Borda handed out awards. Gauci Borda noted the encouraging turnout and highlighted the growing balance between competitive racing and cruising—an area the Club has prioritised in recent years.

Looking ahead, the next event on the Club’s calendar is the Twilight Pursuit Racing Series, which builds on the popular Twilight Race format by introducing a pursuit race element. The series begins on Wednesday 18th June.