The Royal Malta Yacht Club recently hosted a Dinghy Regatta featuring races on the RMYC Sailing School’s RS Quest dinghies, which are quickly gaining popularity for their ease of handling and accessibility.
Designed to bring together family and friends in a fun and inclusive setting, the regatta placed a strong emphasis on participation and enjoyment—without compromising on the competitive spirit that sailing inspires. The mix of experienced sailors and newcomers created a lively dynamic, and the energy on the water was matched by the support from spectators and fellow competitors ashore.
Due to the strong turnout, crews were divided into two groups. The first phase of the regatta, held over two days, consisted of a qualifying series from which the top three teams in each group advanced to the Final Series. The remaining crews competed in the Consolation Series.
In Group 1, Sebastian and Olivia Ripard – with six-year-old Olivia being the youngest participant – led the fleet, winning eight out of ten races. Close behind were Jake Azzopardi and Michaela Gauci Borda, whose consistent sailing earned them second place with 10 points. Camille Legroux and Seda Shahmuradyan secured the third spot with 17 points.
In Group 2, Gary Mercieca and Clara Farrugia narrowly clinched first place, finishing with 18 points—just one ahead of Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia, who placed second with 19 points. Vinicius Degrave and Nicole Zemoz followed in third, ending the series with 21 points.
In the Final Series, Luca Schembri Meli and Roberta Farrugia took the top honours, finishing with two wins and a fourth place. Sebastian and Olivia Ripard finished three points behind in second, while Gary Mercieca and Clara Farrugia came in third, just one point further back.
In the Consolation Series, Peter and Karen Micallef claimed a clear victory, finishing three points ahead of Claudio Bugeja and Chiara Scerri Herrera in second place.
Trophies were presented during a prize-giving evening at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, with the Club’s Hon. Treasurer, Mark Vella, presenting the prizes.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of this RMYC Dinghy Regatta. This format is relatively new for the Club, and it was encouraging to see such a strong response,” said Adrian Gauci Borda, Rear Commodore (Sailing) at the Royal Malta Yacht Club. “It allowed all participants to enjoy plenty of racing, regardless of their final group placement.”
The Club extended its thanks to Race Officer Adrian Gauci Borda and his team: Michelle Caruana, Carina Galicka, Manuel Gatt, and Neity Maddock.