On the morning of March 25th, the University of Malta Rowing Club launched new additions to their fleet of coastal rowing boats. The event showcased four Quads (four-person boats with one coxswain) and four Doubles (two-person boats), which are the first of their kind in Malta.

This investment allows the club to expand their activities and build a significant international presence. “This fleet through the next few weeks will be in action as we will host the World Rowing Tour 2023 in collaboration with the World Rowing Federation, the most prominent international rowing association,” said UM Rowing Club President Rebekah Caruana. “To top it all off, in three weeks’ time, UM Rowing Club will host 20 youths from New Zealand and Australia, who, together with our athletes, will compete in the first Annual ANZAC Beach Sprint Competition.”

Rowing is considered an elite sport in the water sports community due to the high cost of equipment. The total amount invested in boats represents a cost of more than 70,000 euros. The Fund for Social Causes (Il-Fond għal Kawżi Soċjali) covered a considerable part of these costs. The fund’s main purpose is to help various organizations that have social, cultural, educational, sporting, philanthropic, or religious activities. “The application made by the University of Malta Rowing Club was welcomed by the Committee that manages the fund because it not only affects the sporting activity but also affects other aspects, including social, as it will bring together a large number of participants, as well as the cultural aspect of the country that we will export abroad,” said a fund representative. Through these funds, the Club can further popularize the sport of coastal rowing to make it more accessible to the wider public.

“The Central Bank of Malta’s aim, together with that of the organizers, is to promote sports amongst youths, raise Malta’s profile as a destination for coastal rowing, and showcase Malta to an international audience through the participation of mixed gender groups in rowing,” said Prof. Edward Scicluna, Governor of Central Bank of Malta, which is among the club’s main investors.

The club primarily brings together UM students and alumni but is not exclusive to them. “Given the size of our national territory and the fact that we’re an island, UM easily qualifies as a ‘coastal university.’ Hence, the Rowing Club is a natural if belated presence on campus, and we are so happy to lend our support to the Club and its activities,” said UM Rector Prof. Alfred Vella. “Indeed, we hope our enthusiastic club members will manage to apply themselves diligently and effectively in the sport of Coastal Rowing in preparation for the Commonwealth games in 2026 where we would dearly love to see them excel.”

In April, the Club will host two events on an international scale, and from May it will resume its indoor rowing trainings and coastal activities in full force. Club officials point out that a new thriving community is growing around coastal rowing in Malta.

#Malta Daily