The Birżebbuġa Sailing Club’s Yachting Malta BSC International Regatta drew to a close on Tuesday afternoon after four days of intense racing in varying conditions.
The shifting weather kept the Race Committee vigilant, ensuring that races could proceed safely, with minimal disruption.
Despite fluctuating conditions, the Yachting Malta BSC International Regatta fleet successfully completed races across all four days, though adjustments to schedules and courses were necessary.
The opening day provided ideal medium-wind conditions with a southeasterly breeze and moderate swell near Xrobb l-Għaġin, allowing three races for all classes despite initial challenges in anchoring the Race Committee boat.
By the second day, shifting easterly winds and two-metre swells outside the harbour made racing impossible, prompting a move inside the port, which was made possible thanks to a well co-ordinated effort with the Malta Freeport pilot on the day.
This enabled the club to host two back-to-back races on a windward-leeward course. The third day brought strong northeasterly winds and a large rebound swell along the coast, forcing another shift inside the port, where ILCA and Optimist fleets raced back-to-back.
The final day saw much lighter winds at six to seven knots, just enough for the fleet to race outside the harbour for two concluding races in slightly choppy conditions.
From the outset, the leading positions remained largely unchanged, with Maltese sailors dominating the podium.
Many of the winners established their advantage on the first day, maintaining their standing throughout the event.
Birżebbugia Sailing Club Commodore Mario Aquilina expressed his satisfaction with the event’s outcome, noting not only the strong performance of Malta’s sailors against international competition but also the growing appeal of the regatta, now in its fifth year, in attracting foreign competitors to local waters.
A Prize Giving ceremony took place at the club house in the presence of Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Yachting Malta CEO Michael Mifsud, as well as Birzebbuga Mayor Scott Camilleri together with Councillors Alexander Caruana and Darren Debono.
In a statement, the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club extended its heartfelt gratitude to Yachting Malta, Visit Malta, RLR Yachting, the Birżebbuġa Local Council, and the Malta Freeport Pilots on duty for their invaluable support throughout the event.
Appreciation was also given to the dedicated volunteers who had been working tirelessly for weeks to ensure the regatta’s success, as well as to the Race Officials and Jury members.
The Yachting Malta BSC International Regatta was held under the auspices of the Malta Sailing Federation.
RESULTS
ILCA 4
Open class: 1. Timmy Vassallo (MYSC); 2. Jonas Micallef (RMYC); 3. Kaine Muscat (RMYC).
Female class: 1. Emily Fenech (BSC); 2. Krista Spiteri (BSC); 3. Emma Shults (BSC).
ILCA 6
Open class: 1. Tomek Vaccaro (RMYC); 2. Benjamin Vassallo (MYSC); 3. Poyraz Fidanboy (RMYC).
Females: 1. Katrina Micallef (RMYC); 2. Michela Mifsud (BSC); 3. Lacey Aquilina (BSC).
ILCA 7
Open: 1. Matthew Flores (RMYC); 2. Shaun Aquilina (BSC).
Optimist Senior
Open: 1. Andrey Zhakov (BSC); 2. Isaac Azzopardi (BSC); 3. Matthias Spiteri (MYSC).
Females: 1. Sasha Nagrundnaia (BSC); 2. Samanta Axisa (RMYC); 3. Ella Demicoli (MYSC).
Optimist Novice: 1. Ben Spiteri Bailey (RMYC); 2. Yufan Li (RMYC); 3. Marko Kuvichkin (RMYC).
Optimist Cadet: 1. Timothy Vella (BSC); 2. Jean Sammut (VSC); 3. Matt Sillato (MYSC).
