In extraordinary circumstances, Isla emerged victorious in the 2025 Victory Day National Regatta, claiming the prestigious overall Shield with a total of 68 points.
In Category A, Isla finished ahead of their fierce rivals Birgu, who placed second with 60 points, while Bormla secured third with 34 points. Isla’s dominance extended to Category B, where they again took top spot with 48 points, followed by Birgu with 40 and Marsamxett with 32.
Adding to their success, Isla also won the women’s race, underlining their control across all categories in this year’s regatta.
Delays and Controversy Mar the Event
This year’s regatta was overshadowed by major delays and organisational issues. The event, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., did not see its first race start until two hours later, leaving athletes and spectators frustrated.
Two main issues caused the late start. Firstly, the soldier responsible for firing the starting gun was unable to do so because he did not have the blank cartridges required to signal the beginning of the race. Secondly, the start line was incorrectly set up, disadvantaging lane one, which faced towards Valletta. This sparked protests, particularly from Marsamxett’s women’s team, who were drawn in lane one and voiced their concerns openly.
Further complications arose before the Category B Medal Race, when competitors had to wait several minutes for a catamaran to exit Grand Harbour, causing additional delays to the schedule.
Aside from these issues, there were also several false starts, a common occurrence in past editions but more frequent this year, contributing to the ongoing confusion.
Frustration Among Fans and Participants
Many supporters took to social media to express their anger over the chaotic organisation. A particular point of criticism was the long wait endured by young helmsmen, who were forced to remain on their boats under the scorching sun for nearly two hours before racing began.
The delayed start also created a tight race schedule, leaving rowers competing in multiple races with little recovery time, further compounding fatigue and frustration throughout the event.
Despite the setbacks, Isla’s impressive performances on the water ensured they lifted all major honours, cementing their reputation as the dominant force in Maltese rowing.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
Leave a Reply