Last weekend’s BOV Gozo Regatta Trophy races, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, were forced to move to Malta because of strong winds and high seas.

For the fourth year in succession, Elusive 2 retained the overall title for the BOV Gozo Regatta.

Race Director Peter Dimech, in agreement with all the participating crews, decided to hold the races outside the Grand Harbour in Malta due to the inclement weather conditions especially at Mgarr Harbour where docking of the boats would have been dangerous and tricky.

Skippered by Maya Podesta, Elusive 2 took line honours and the lead on the first race on Friday. This was followed by an unbeaten run on Saturday when the Club organised two round-the-cans races held.

On Sunday they won the first race to ensure first place in both IRC Racer Class 1 and the overall win.

In IRC Racer Class 2, Andrew Agius Delicata’s Vivace edged JYS Jan skippered by Zachary Zammit with 3 wins against 2 to lead the category. In the IRC Cruiser Class, Allegra, with owner Patrick Vassallo at the helm had the better of Mario Debono’s Janissah to win the Class.

The BOV Gozo Regatta Trophy was presented to the Elusive 2 crew, overall winners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race and now four times winners of this race, by Stefan Abela, Community Relations Officer at Bank of Valletta and Godwin Zammit, Commodore at the Royal Malta Yacht Club.Abela said that, “we are very proud of the decision taken by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the racers who put safety first in the prevailing weather situation and moved the race to Malta, and also of the crews who honoured their commitment to race in the not so favourable conditions.”

“The BOV Gozo Regatta has established itself as the first race following the gruelling Rolex Middle Sea Race where we are proud to have this year’s winners of the prestigious race also winning the BOV Regatta,” he said.

The RMYC Commodore said, “it was an absolute pleasure watching the crews tackle the tricky conditions along the Maltese coast, and we are particularly delighted for the number of very young crew members participating in the race – they surely are the future of Maltese sailing.”

He concluded by saying, “special thanks go to Race Director Peter Dimech and RMYC Vice Commodore Robert Ciantar who braved the rough sea to organise and marshal the races throughout the weekend.”

Results of the BOV Gozo Regatta Weekend can be found on https://www.rmyc.org/event/2019-bov-gozo-weekend-regatta/

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