Jonathan Gambin’s Ton Ton Laferla Insurance has continued to assert its position as the team to beat in the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s 2026 racing calendar, by claiming yet another overall honours at the Paymix Pro Ragusa Weekend. Ton Ton won both the outward and return passage races between Malta and Ragusa.
In the RMYC Cruiser Class, Big Star, sailed double-handed by Sandro Musu and Sue Busuttil, took overall honours with a second and a first in the races to and from Ragusa.
Race 1 — Malta to Ragusa
Twenty-seven boats took to the water across two starts in fresh north-easterly conditions of force 5 to 6, making for a choppy departure from harbour.
Ton Ton Laferla Insurance took an early lead in the 52.5-nautical-mile race to Porto Turistico Marina di Ragusa, before RMYC Cruiser Class entries Otra Vez (Aaron Gatt Floridia) and Xpalidocious (David Pizzuto) pushed through to the front of the fleet. Otra Vez was the first boat across the line, followed by Xpalidocious and Ton Ton.
On time correction, Ton Ton Laferla Insurance took the IRC Class win. Steve Carter’s Stella R finished second, with Sebastian Ripard’s Calypso in third.
In the RMYC Cruiser Class, the race was won by Game Changer — sailed double-handed by Edmund Glaister and Joseph Muscat — on the boat’s debut in the RMYC fleet. Big Star (Sandro Musu and Sue Busuttil) finished second, with David Pizzuto’s Xpalidocious in third.
Race 2 — Ragusa to Malta
The return passage began under clear skies with light westerly winds that built as the day progressed. Otra Vez once again took the lead and was first to cross the finish line, followed closely by Ton Ton Laferla Insurance, Blue Kairos (Horst Huesley) and Xpalidocious.
On time correction, Ton Ton Laferla Insurance claimed another IRC Class win, with Calypso in second and Ray Schembri’s Sailaway in third.
In the RMYC Cruiser Class, double handed entry Big Star took the win, with Otra Vez in second. David Pizzuto’s Xpalidocious rounded out a consistent weekend with third place on the return leg, matching his result on the outward passage.
Overall Results
In the IRC Class, Ton Ton Laferla Insurance topped the standings with a perfect score of two wins, followed by Calypso in second and Sailaway in third.
In the RMYC Cruiser Class, Big Star claimed overall honours ahead of Otra Vez in second and Xpalidocious in third.
“This was by far the largest fleet we have had for the Ragusa Weekend, and we were once again pleased to see a good balance between racing and cruising boats. The combination of racing and social activities is always well received by our crews, who enjoy the best of both alongside time to explore at their own pace,” said Adrian Gauci Borda, Rear Commodore (Sailing).
The Royal Malta Yacht Club extended its gratitude to Paymix Pro for their continued support of this race for the second consecutive year, as well as to the Race Management team led by Martin Azzopardi in Malta and Mark Napier in Ragusa, and to Grace Azzopardi, Michelle Caruana, Neity Maddock and Tania Steinbeck for their contributions over the weekend.
A prize-giving evening, together with Paymix Pro, supporters of this race, will be hosted for participants and members on Friday 8th May at the Club’s rooftop.
The next race on the Club’s Calendar will be the Thos. Smith Triple Handed race which will start on Saturday 9th May at 1630hrs.