Malta–Syracuse Offshore Sailing Race Returns For 65th Edition This Saturday

One of the Mediterranean’s oldest and most captivating regattas, the Malta–Syracuse Offshore Sailing Race, is set to return this Saturday for its 65th edition.

First held in 1952 and conceived by Captain Illingworth of the Royal British Navy, this historic event spans an 84-mile course across Italian and Maltese waters. The race is jointly organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Lega Navale Italiana (Sezione di Siracusa), with the starting point alternating each year. This year, the race will begin in Syracuse.

The fleet will set sail at 10:30am on Saturday, racing towards Valletta over one of the Mediterranean’s most unpredictable and challenging sea routes. Variable weather conditions make this a technically demanding event, full of surprises for even the most experienced crews.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club will be strongly represented, with several boats returning to familiar waters. Among the participating yachts are Alecto (Charles Cronin), Calypso 3.0 (Seb Ripard), Dimm (Kevin Pisani Zammit), Inspiration (Godwin Zammit), and Ton Ton Laferla Insurance (Jonathan Gambin).

Notably, club member Oliviero Emaldi’s Safran Rouge will compete under a Sicilian club, but with several Maltese crew members on board—highlighting the deep and enduring ties between the Maltese and Sicilian sailing communities.

Many of the sailors taking part are veterans of the race. Godwin Zammit, for example, has participated in around 17 editions, including 10 aboard Inspiration. Maltese teams have enjoyed notable success in recent years: Calypso won the overall ORC Class in 2023, while Ton Ton Laferla Insurance secured second place in the IRC Division in 2021.

The Malta–Syracuse Race not only celebrates technical prowess and seamanship but also honours the enduring spirit and tradition of offshore sailing. Several trophies will be awarded at the prize-giving ceremony, to be held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club on Sunday evening.

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