Clean sweep for Viva Malta at Roma Per Tutti Offshore Race

This success is the fruit of meticulous preparation, a structured and rigorous crew selection process, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring that Malta’s first international offshore racing campaign would be built on the strongest possible foundations.

Competing aboard the Cookson 50 Viva Malta, the team took to the start line at Riva di Traiano last weekend, for one of the Tyrrhenian Sea’s most celebrated offshore classics – the Roma Per Tutti – and returned with a treble: Line Honours, IRC Overall, and ORC Overall.

For a team racing together for the first time, the conditions at Roma Per Tutti 2026 were nothing but challenging — and Viva Malta met them head-on.

While each crew member brought solid offshore experience, and several had sailed together in previous campaigns, this marked their first outing as a complete unit aboard Viva Malta.

The race opened with a favourable southerly breeze at the start, which carried the fleet south in strong conditions for much of the early passage.

Upwind, the crew faced gusts reaching 38 knots with seas running at 4 to 6 metres – severe conditions that accounted for retirements elsewhere in the fleet. Erring to the side of caution, the Maltese crew kept the boat moving and pressed on when others could not.

Approaching Lipari, the fleet entered a transition zone. The southerly wind gave way to a fresh south-westerly breeze, which Viva Malta rode north in downwind conditions for the return leg to Rome – an exhilarating passage that lasted approximately 20 hours.

As the boat neared Rome, conditions changed once again: the final 60 miles brought thunder, lightning, and rain, with a fresh burst of breeze from an unexpected storm. #

Though far from welcome, the team held their nerve, managed the conditions, and crossed the line first.

Throughout the race, the crew gelled and grew together as a unit, pushing hard in demanding circumstances and demonstrating precisely the cohesion and competitive spirit that the selection process had set out to build.

Securing Line Honours and topping IRC Overall, and ORC Overall classes reflects not just speed, but teamwork, resilience, and seamanship of the highest order.

“It has been a privilege to be chosen by the Malta Sailing Federation as co- I want to thank the sailing clubs, the federation, and our families for their patience and support throughout this journey,” said Zach Zammit, the team co-skipper.

“A very personal thank you to Ramon Sant Hill for the extraordinary work he put in to get this boat race-ready – there is more work still to be done on the boat, but what he achieved in the time available was remarkable. This result belongs to every one of them.”

On his part, Saul Vassallo, co-skipper, said: “I am very happy with the boat and the team — they were phenomenal. We had every horrible sailing condition possible: transition zones, lightning storms, heavy seas… you name it.

“But we were sailing with friends we have known for years, and they performed exceptionally well. It was a strong team effort and we are absolutely over the moon.”

For Sant Hill, the Roma Per Tutti holds a particularly personal significance.

In 2009, the boat captain was part of the crew aboard Sciara, which claimed overall victory in that year’s edition of the race.

Returning to Riva di Traiano – this time as Boat Captain of the Maltese national team, and now as part of a winning crew once more – represents a remarkable full-circle moment.

 The Viva Malta Offshore Racing Team was supported by Sport Malta and the Malta Sailing Federation.

On his part, Malta Sailing Federation president Michael Mifsud said: “This is a historic milestone for Maltese sailing, and a statement of intent for what promises to be an ambitious international campaign. The red and white of Malta has crossed the line first. Line Honours, IRC Overall, ORC Overall – on its international debut, Viva Malta has won it all. This is only the beginning” he concluded.

Viva Malta will be in action in the Bay of Naples at the 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi again on May 8 .