Watch: St Peter’s regatta at Birżebbuġa Sailing Club

The St Peter’s regatta was held earlier this month at the Birżebbuga Sailing Club Freeport.

This was the first local ranking regatta held after the COVID-19 outbreak and the organisers followed all health measures to ensure that the event was safe for everyone.

Over 50 boats from the laser, optimist and miracle classes took part in the event, which was sponsored by Crosscraft. Four races were held on the day.  

Medium north westerly conditions were registered on Saturday, August 1. Race officer David Dalli took advantage of these conditions and set a course at the Bengħisa reef in wind conditions varying from 13-18 knots. This was a wise decision since Sunday wind was excessively light and variable to hold and races.

Birżebbuġa Sailing Club helpers, many of them parents, stepped up for the event and did an excellent job, on and off the water to ensure a smooth running of the day.

In the Optimist novice category, Sayon Bonnici, flew the home club flag high by placing first while Jack Gabriele and Harry Fairbairn ended in second and third place respectively.

Timmy Vassallo, of MYSC, topped the standings in the Optimist cadet category ahead of team-mated Jonas Micallef while Zane Attard, Birżebbuġa Sailing Club, completed the podium.

Birżebbuġa SC sailor Jake Mallia took the honours in the Optimist open category ahead of Ben Vassallo and Nico Dresher, who hail from the Malta Young Sailors Club.

In the Miracle class, all boats hailed from the Birżebbuġa sailing club.

This category was all about family with father and son, Pierre and Andrew Mifsud, placing first to beat the opposition of brothers Manuel and Joseph Fenech. 

Completing the family affair were father and daughter Edward and Martina Flores who stepped on the lower step of the podium.

Father and son Roberto and Hoachim Darmanin finished the day in fourth place.

In the Laser Classes, the sailors, hailing all from Birżebbuġa Sailing Club, took all spots on the podium with Matthew Flores coming out on top ahead of Shaun Aquilina and Kurt Borg in both the 4.7 and the overall laser categories.

Dimitris Vertsonis, from the Royal Malta Yacht club, placed first in the Laser Radial class. Lacey Aquilina, of Birżebbuġa Sailing Club, placed second ahead of Sailcoach’s Luca Franklin.

In a statement, the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club were grateful to regatta sponsor Crosscraft for their support throughout the years as well as Transport Malta who provided enforcement officers during the launching and rigging area.

“Last but not least, we thank the four clubs and all their sailors who participated in the event,” the club added.

“The St Peter’s Crosscraft regatta and Birzebbuga Sailing Club Freeport have once again lived up to their name as an excellent regatta unfolded over a great weekend.”

For more information on the Birżebbuġa Sailing club visit their facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/pg/BSCsailing/photos/?ref=page_internal