The BOV Gozo Weekend Regatta, hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and supported by Bank of Valletta, once again proved its popularity, attracting a strong fleet of 24 boats — almost evenly split between 15 in the IRC Racers Division and 9 in the IRC and RMYC Cruisers Class.
Sebastian Ripard’s Calypso claimed victory over the weekend, marking a second consecutive win after etching their name on the BOV Gozo Trophy last year.
Across three days of exhilarating racing, the fleet faced shifting weather conditions that at times tested patience, yet did little to dampen the enthusiasm and excitement that this well-established event consistently brings to the RMYC racing calendar.
The Regatta started on Friday afternoon with a passage race from Marsamxett to Mġarr Harbour, followed on Saturday by tactical “round-the-cans” racing in the Gozo–Comino Channel, before concluding with a final passage race back to Malta.
Ripard’s Calypso clinched the overall victory with a narrow two-point margin over the Podesta’s Elusive 2. The latter dominated Friday’s passage race, crossing the line first and securing the win on corrected time. However, Saturday’s round-the-cans race brought light and variable winds that played to Calypso’s strengths — their smaller size, agility, and tactical precision proved decisive, earning them first place. A solid second-place finish in Sunday’s return passage to Malta was enough to secure Calypso’s overall triumph ahead of Elusive 2.
IRC Class 1
With Calypso and Elusive 2 securing the top two positions in the Class, the battle for third place remained wide open. Sean Borg’s Jubatus, with its lightweight design, excelled during Sunday’s return race to Malta, taking a considerable lead over the fleet. However, in the final standings, it was Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla that clinched third place — edging out Jubatus by just one point.
“The BOV Gozo Weekend is a special event, boat and crew are still sharp and buzzing after middle sea race. This edition was special because my 6yr old daughter, Olivia, joined us and survived a wet and windy passage race up to Mgarr. The racing was also great, we had a nice spread of conditions and a lot of boats turned out which made for some good racing. Also, it was fantastic to end on a fast and breezy run home where we pushed our little Farr 30 to a max boat speed of 19knts!” – Sebastian Ripard, Calypso
IRC Class 2
In IRC Class 2, Andrew Agius Delicata and Matthew Gabriele’s Vivace led the fleet with consistent top-three finishes across all races, securing a Class win with a comfortable lead.
“An adrenaline-charged weekend packed with fierce racing and great company! We had it all—calm spells, gusty blasts, tactical upwinds, and thrilling downwind sprints. The team gave it their all with top spirit throughout! We love this regatta, and achieving first in our Class while placing third overall was the perfect finish! Huge thanks from Team Vivace to the Royal Malta Yacht Club and BOV for a fantastic event—we’re already excited for the next one!” – Andrew Agius Delicata, Vivace.
A close battle for the remaining podium positions unfolded between Anton Calleja’s L’Artista and the Jarhead Young Sailors’ Jarhead skippered by Gary Mercieca. In the end, L’Artista edged ahead, finishing second by just one point over Jarhead.
IRC Cruisers
The IRC Cruisers Division featured a compact yet competitive fleet with Seven making a strong debut. Skippered by Mario Debono, Seven immediately made her mark by winning the opening passage race on corrected time. Godwin Zammit’s Inspiration countered with a strong performance in the round-the-cans race, demonstrating excellent light-wind handling to claim victory. Christine Stanschus’ Chapeau (Beneteau Oceanis 46) completed the standings in third place.
“From the first breath of wind in here sails to the laughter we shared, our weekend aboard Seven was pure magic. We did well, much better than I expected, and it was challenging at times, with the boat ill-equipped for racing so far .The smiles of our young crew, the camaraderie within the Royal Malta Yacht Club, and the friendships forged over the weekend truly captured what sailing is all about.” – Mario Debono, skipper Seven
RMYC Cruisers
The RMYC Cruisers Division delivered a competitive series featuring standout performances from Nenya, Forever 25, and Kira.
Nenya, crewed double-handed by brothers Aaron and Edward Gatt Floridia, claimed the class victory with two wins and a second-place finish. Martin Kunath’s Forever 25 followed in second place, while Gino Cutajar’s Kira maintained steady form throughout the weekend to finish third.
“We raced Nenya for the first time. The conditions over the weekend were just excellent and we really enjoyed ourselves. The racing was very close and we had a very tight and exciting race on Sunday working very hard to get a result.” – Aaron Gatt Floridia, Nenya
The social side of the weekend was as lively as the racing itself. Crews gathered on Friday evening for the traditional Happy Hour at the sailors’ favourite watering hole – Gleneagles, Saturday brought the classic mix of pastizzi and beers on the pontoons, followed by a hearty dinner that saw sailors relax.
A Prize-Giving Ceremony was held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club on Sunday evening in the presence of Stefan Abela, Manager CSR at Bank of Valletta.
“At Bank of Valletta, we believe in the transformative power of sport to inspire, unite, and develop communities,’ said Stefan Abela, Manager CSR at Bank of Valletta. “Supporting events like the BOV Gozo Regatta reflects our long-standing commitment to nurturing local talent, promoting healthy lifestyles, and investing in Malta’s sporting future. We are proud to stand behind initiatives that celebrate excellence, resilience, and teamwork—values that resonate deeply with the Bank’s mission“
Commodore Mark Napier joined Abela in presenting trophies to the winners.
“The BOV Gozo Weekend Regatta has repeatedly shown its popularity, offering the perfect blend of racing, cruising, and socialising,” remarked Napier. “Competition on the water is always fierce, but it’s the camaraderie and banter on land that truly bring crews together. We are deeply grateful to Bank of Valletta for their longstanding support and look forward to many more years of collaboration.”
Napier also extended his thanks to the Race Committee, led by Martin Azzopardi and supported by Manuel Gatt and Michelle Caruana, as well as to the Club Secretariat team for their excellent organisation throughout the weekend.
The next event on the Club’s calendar will be the Zhik Double Handed Figure of 8 Race, taking place on Saturday, 22nd November.
Photo Credits: Sailing Images – RMYC/ Crispin Gauci Peresso, Prize Giving Images – Bank of Valletta.