1 comment.10 paddlers complete record breaking circumnavigation of Gozo
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10 paddlers from the Malta Canoe Racing Club have successfully circumnavigated the island of Gozo on surfskis, starting and ending at Mgarr harbour, with two completing the course in record breaking time.
The paddlers started at 8am and went round the island in a clockwise direction, with the aim of attempting to complete the challenging cliff section first. A mild south easterly breeze aided the athletes complete the first half of the island.
However, as the paddlers passed Wied Mielah, this same breeze became a strong head wind that made conditions exceptionally challenging at Qala point where the paddlers had already completed 30km out of the 35km required to complete the event.
Chris Camilleri and Matthew Schembri, paddling in a doubles surfski, managed to complete the course in a record 3:09.
Karl Borg and Luca Pace soon followed, finishing in 4:16 and 4:26 respectively. 16-year-old Karolyn Joy Thomas, Szabina Toth and David Abela completed the course in 4:43, 4:47 and 4:48 respectively.
Impressively, Jonathan Cassar Torregiani and his son 16-year-old Luke Cassar Torregiani completed the course in a doubles surfski in 7:05,16-year-old Maria Cassar Torregiani also single handedly finished the course in 7:05.
Photos: Top – From left to Right, Chris Camilleri and Matthew Schembri (in distance), Luca Pace, David Abela, Karolyn Joy Thomas, Karl Borg and Szabina Toth; and below – Luke Cassar Torregiani (left), Jonathan Cassar Torregiani (right); Chris Camilleri (left), Matthew Schembri (Right) and Karolyn Joy Thomas (Left), Szabina Toth (right).
Congratulations to all concerned. An impressive feat, especially in just over 3 hours! I’m only guessing, but I would have thought the distance round the island is further than 35km, even at sea-level staying close to the shore.