The Royal Malta Yacht Club recently hosted a lively Dinghy Regatta featuring RS Quest dinghies from the RMYC Sailing School fleet—boats that continue to gain popularity for their user-friendly design and versatility.
The event aimed to blend competition with inclusivity, attracting a mix of experienced sailors and first-time racers in a format that encouraged participation across all skill levels. With strong interest from club members and guests, the regatta drew a sizeable turnout, prompting organisers to divide crews into two groups for the qualifying series.
In Group 1, Sebastian and Olivia Ripard dominated proceedings, winning eight out of ten races. Six-year-old Olivia was the youngest sailor in the fleet. Jake Azzopardi and Michaela Gauci Borda secured second place with 10 points, followed by Camille Legroux and Seda Shahmuradyan on 17 points.
Group 2 delivered a much tighter contest. Gary Mercieca and Clara Farrugia topped the group with 18 points—just one ahead of Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia (19 points), while Vinicius Degrave and Nicole Zemoz placed third on 21 points.
Young sailors continue to impress
The top three teams from each group advanced to the Final Series. There, Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia emerged as overall winners with two race victories and a fourth-place finish. Sebastian and Olivia Ripard followed in second, three points adrift, while Mercieca and Farrugia completed the podium just one point further back.
In the Consolation Series, Peter and Karen Micallef claimed top spot, finishing ahead of Claudio Bugeja and Chiara Scerri Herrera by a three-point margin.
Prizes were awarded at the RMYC during a presentation evening hosted by Club Hon. Treasurer Mark Vella. Rear Commodore (Sailing) Adrian Gauci Borda praised the event’s success:
“We’re thrilled with the turnout and the enthusiasm shown throughout the weekend. This format is still relatively new for the Club, but it’s proving to be a great way to get more sailors involved. Everyone had a chance to race competitively, no matter their final ranking.”
The Club also thanked Race Officer Adrian Gauci Borda and his support team: Michelle Caruana, Carina Galicka, Manuel Gatt, and Neity Maddock, for their smooth organisation throughout the event.
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