Royal Malta Yacht Club hosts successful BOV Gozo Weekend Regatta

Elusive 2, sailed by the Podesta family, once again etched its name on the BOV Gozo Regatta trophy when it won three of the four races taking place over the weekend.

The BOV Gozo Regatta, traditionally the first local race following the Rolex Middle Sea Race saw 14 boats racing over the weekend, with a race from Marsamxett to Mgarr Gozo on Friday. Saturday saw the boats racing in the Comino channel and then racing back from Gozo to Malta on Sunday.

Their wins were hard fought as they had to battle off attempts by Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele’s Vivace and Sebastian Ripard’s Calypso, the latter winning the second race of the weekend.

Elusive 2 took command of the first race of the weekend, a passage race from Marsamxett to Gozo.  Behind them Aaron Gatt Floridia’s Otra Vez attempted to keep close by as were Vivace who was the third boat to pass by the Fairway buoy.

On Saturday, the Race Committee, led by RMYC Rear Commodore (Sailing) Adrian Gauci Borda, taking the very low winds into consideration, took the decision to change the planned round the buoys races to races Round Comino.  The first race in the morning was won by Calypso, followed by Vivace and Elusive 2.

The afternoon race, also round Comino, was also won by Elusive 2, who were determined to make up for the third place obtained in the morning.  Calypso and Vivace followed in second and third place respectively.

Sunday morning’s forecast with far less wind than was hoped for saw the Race Committee shorten the course. The new time limit meant that only Elusive 2 and Luis Azzopardi and Sara Baldwin’s Corona made the cut, the rest having to retire.

The Cruisers’ division saw Godwin Zammit’s Inspiration take two wins home, but was pipped to a win in the third race by Kevin Pisani Zammit’s Dimm, thus halting their unbeaten run.

“The Club was delighted with the participation in the BOV Gozo Regatta. This Regatta is a firm favourite with Club crews as it combines a weekend of racing and socialising.  The latter was very much welcomed particularly since the past two years, pandemic rules prevented crews from letting their hair down after a day on the water” remarked Gauci Borda.

Winners were presented with their prizes at the Royal Malta Yacht Club after the final race by Simon Azzopardi Chief Wealth Management Officer at Bank of Valletta and RMYC Commodore David Cremona.

‘The weekend proved to be very challenging to the racers, with low winds, torrential rain and other unfavourable conditions but persevered and proceeded with their racing,’ said Simon Azzopardi. ‘At Bank of Valletta, we value the benefits of sports in all forms as part of our ESG commitments’.

Wrapping up proceedings, Club Commodore David Cremona expressed his satisfaction at the weekend’s outcome.   “The Club would like to thank BOV for once again supporting the Club.  This partnership has reached its second decade this year and for this we are all very grateful and appreciative of the support we receive. Weekends such as the BOV Gozo Regatta bring out the pulsating vibe that the Club is known for. Our crews are very competitive but then on land they really know how to get an energetic atmosphere going. This is what the RMYC is all about!” he concluded.

BOV Gozo Regatta Results

IRC Overall

IRC Class 1

IRC Class 2

IRC Cruisers