1,450,495 Travelled Between Malta & Gozo In 2024 Q1

Apr 16 2024

During the first quarter of 2024, sea transport between Malta and Gozo showed significant increases in passengers, vehicles, and trips compared to the same period in 2023.

A total of 9,602 trips were conducted between January and March 2024, transporting 1,450,495 passengers. March was the busiest month, accounting for 34.5% of total trips.

Specifically, the route between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa saw a notable rise in passenger numbers, totaling 1,294,314 passengers—an increase of 9.6% from the previous year’s first quarter. March recorded the highest number of passengers at 491,298.

Vehicle traffic also increased by 5.8%, with a total of 465,108 vehicles transported during the quarter. Although the overall number of trips slightly decreased by 0.3% compared to the same period in 2023, March remained the peak month with 34.6% of total trips.

Passenger traffic from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, while vehicle traffic peaked on Fridays and Thursdays. Conversely, from Mġarr, passenger traffic was highest on Sundays and Saturdays, with vehicle traffic peaking on Sundays and Mondays.

The Gozo Channel ferry service notably expanded during this quarter, with a 103.2% increase in trips and a 115.1% increase in passengers compared to the same period in 2023. March saw the highest number of trips (593) and passengers (62,076), representing 34.2% and 39.7% of the quarter’s total, respectively.

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Source: NSO

Karl Miggiani Sets National Sailing Record In Challenging Conditions

Apr 16 2024

Malta Young Sailors’ Club today hosted a windsurfing Round Malta Race, which was the final qualifying event for the forthcoming Foiling 100 event where sailors will be crossing over from St. Paul’s Bay to Ragusa.

Five sailors – Jean Paul Fleri Soler, Karl Miggiani, Shaun Miggiani, Seb Ripard and Tom Zammit Tabona started off the Round Malta race at 09:40hrs this morning, departing on a southbound, clockwise course around Malta.

Sailing conditions for the day were tough with the windsurfers encountering ever changing conditions throughout their endeavour. With waves ranging from 0m to 2.5m and wind speeds fluctuating between 30 and 5 knots, these conditions causing the fleet to regularly switch between flying and stalling their speed momentarily.

Karl Miggiani led the way for most of the course, with Jean Paul Fleri Soler – winner of the first Malta-Sicily Windsurf race back in 1984, hot on Miggiani’s heels. As Miggiani and Fleri Soler forged ahead, the adverse weather conditions hindered the remaining sailors’ progress with Zammit Tabona retiring close to Benghajsa. Shaun Miggiani and Ripard suffered a similar fate which caused them to retire close to Armier when the wind died down completely with no hope of making it back to St. Paul’s Bay.

Reflecting on the grueling experience, Karl Miggiani remarked, “The 75km stretch proved to be a challenging course, testing not only our physical fitness but also our mental resilience due to the unpredictable shifts in conditions we faced. Naturally, the satisfaction of not only completing the course but also setting a new record is immeasurable.”

The new course record now stands at 3 ours, 46 minutes and 5 seconds. The previous record, established in 1995 by Carmelo Abela was 5 hours and 21 minutes. To put things into perspective, the round Malta sailing record – established by Lee Satariano’s Artie III in 2019, stands at just 4 hours and 44 minutes.

Malta Young Sailors’ Club is now gearing up for the Foiling 100 event, which is scheduled to take place between the 16th and 19th May and will consist of a 100km race from St. Paul’s Bay to Ragusa in Sicily

Malta Young Sailors Club, expressed their gratitude towards the generous support of sponsors and volunteers including Yachting Malta, Casamigos, courtesy of M. Demajo Wines & Spirit Ltd., and Visit Malta.

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Thousands Of Families Visit Disciplined Forces Open Day

Apr 16 2024

Thousands of local families met with Malta’s various Disciplined Forces to raise awareness about the work done to protect the many citizens living in Malta and Gozo.

During an Open Day in the Academy of the Disciplined Corps in Ta’ Kandja, the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Civil Protection Department and the Agency for Correctional Services organised an activity which could be attended by anyone.

The open day provided the opportunity for these forces to explain what they do, whilst also exhibiting many of their equipment, vehicles as well as training.

Amongst the sections, lots of attention was drawn to the Police Force’s forensics and iSpecial Intervention Unit; the tallest ladder crane in Malta and drones of the CPD; the AFM’s shooting range and night vision equipment; and the canine officers and bakery of the Correctional Facility!

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Michael Mifsud To Join Man Utd Vs Coventry Commentary

Apr 16 2024

This weekend’s FA Cup semi-final features Coventry City against Manchester United, marking their first meeting since a League Cup tie in 2007. A win at Wembley would send the Sky Blues to their first FA Cup final since their historic 1987 victory.

Mifsud revealed on a social media video that he will be joining the BBC CWR Commentary Team for the upcoming match this Sunday.

Maltese Michael Mifsud scored the two winning goals during the historic match, seeing the the Maltese striker eastablishing a cult-hero status in Coventry. In the 2007/08 League Cup third-round clash, then in the Championship, Coventry faced Sir Alex Ferguson’s formidable Manchester United squad. Despite expectations favouring the reigning Premier League champions, Coventry, led by Mifsud, defied the odds.

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Mifsud broke the deadlock on 27 minutes by converting Michael Doyle’s cross, stunning the Old Trafford crowd.

Then, on 70 minutes, the Malta international’s clinical finish ignited jubilation among the 11,000 traveling Sky Blues supporters, securing a historic victory. United’s lineup boasted future World Cup and Champions League winner Gerard Pique, Portugal’s Nani, and Michael Carrick coming off the bench.

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