Fickle winds and steep swells for RMYC Citadel Coastal Race

May 5, 2016
Maria Vella-Galea

With weather conditions in Marzamemi leading to thepostponement of the Citadel Marzamemi Regatta, the Royal Malta Yacht Cluborganised a Coastal Race for crews who had been geared up to race over theweekend. Whilst weather conditions were slightly better in Malta, neverthelessthe seventeen competing crews encountered some tricky moments during Saturday’sCitadel Coastal Race.

Split into three classes, crews were given an approximatefifteen nautical mile course starting from Marsamxett Harbour and which tookthem south to Munxar before turning back to finish at the Royal Malta YachtClub early in the afternoon.

Winner of IRC Class 1, Aaron Gatt Floridia (Otra Vez)commented “We enjoyed the race and the fine sailing conditions. Otra Vez hasjust been put back in the water for the new season and we were looking forwardto getting back to racing. The wind was very light at the start and the swellmade it tricky to keep the boat moving but the breeze improved as we went Southand made for a very enjoyable race”.

Mark Vassallo’s Fast Forward sailed into first place in IRCClass 2. Vassallo echoed Gatt Floridia’s sentiments – “Although a short race,it didn't come without its fair share of tricky moments particularly at thestart, due to the fickle wind and steep NE swell…..and at Marsascala, wherein view of our overlapping genoa we were unable to hold an angle high enough toavoid a non-making tack at the reef……which cost us precious time….Onceround Munxar, the breeze picked up slightly which made for a very easy sail allthe way to the finish!!”

Ian Pace sailing on his Oceanis 40 Mawimbi won IRC Class 4,“A well organised race, which we thoroughly enjoyed, making up for the disappointmentof the Marzamemi postponement. We look forward to hopefully racing to Marzamemion the 13th”.

Crews were hosted to a Prize Giving evening which was heldat the Royal Malta Yacht Club later on in the day. The Royal Malta Yacht Club is grateful toCitadel Insurance plc for supporting this event as well as all the volunteers (Peter Dimech, Simone Dimech, Richard Dennis, Stephanie Jones, Anna Rossi and Maria Vella-Galea who took care of Race Management on the day.

Results of the 2016Citadel Coastal Race

IRC Class 1

1st Place – Otra Vez (Aaron Gatt Floridia)

2nd Place – Juno (Sonke Stein)

3rd Place – Xpresso (Sean Borg)

IRC Class 2

1st Place – Fast Forward (Mark Vassallo)

2nd Place – Time Out (Mario Sant)

3rd Place – Windriven (Per Sahlberg)

IRC Class 4

1st Place – Mawimbi (Ian Pace)

2nd Place – Inspiration (Godwin Zammit)

Citadel MarzamemiWeekend Regatta

Royal Malta Yacht Club crews are now hoping for good weatherfor the Citadel Marzamemi Regatta Weekend which has now been moved to theweekend starting 13th May. The Regatta will see boats racing up to Marzamemi on Friday and racingback down on the Sunday. Throughout the weekend there will be the possibilityof racing with Italian counterparts as well as a social event hosted by theRoyal Malta Yacht Club at the Yacht Club in Marzamemi.

A Prize Giving will be held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club onFriday 20th May.

More information on the Royal Malta Yacht Club RacingCalendar can be obtained by visiting www.rmyc.org.

Photos can be viewed on http://www.rmyc.org/media-gallery/?cid=257

Results – http://www.rmyc.org/races/?id=223