Colourful livery unveiled for Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Boat
“This was a dream of Yachting Malta to spearhead a project whereby Malta will have its own Offshore Sailing Project, to compete in the international offshore circuit. We firmly believe that this project stands to promote Malta as a centre of excellence in yachting.”
MICHAEL MIFSUD, CEO YACHTING MALTA
The Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Team was officially launched on Wednesday when the livery for the Cookson 50 Viva Malta was unveiled at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub.
The launch was presided by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Hon Aaron Farrugia and the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Dr Clifton Grima, the Cookson 50 was blessed by Mons. Victor Grech.
“This project ties in well with the rehabilitation of this large harbour area which is currently being managed by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC), as well as the National Yachting Policy which is currently being drawn up together with all stakeholders involved,”
Hon. Aaron Farrugia – Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia
The idea of a National Offshore Sailing Team, a first for Malta, was a natural progression brought about by local sailors’ expertise and passion for offshore sailing coupled with Malta’s success in offshore sailing.
“The initiative we are launching is one of the various projects that are currently ongoing, in this case we are giving our support to sportsmen and a sports discipline that has registered great progress in these last years. I hope that through this initiative we will record more successes both on a personal basis for the sportsmen involved as well as on a national scale.”
Hon. Dr Clifton Grima – Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation
Maltese crews have proudly flown the island’s flag at many international events, challenging other international crews in the most strenuous conditions in familiar and less charted territories. Several Maltese sailors will be forever associated with the iconic 606 nautical mile Rolex Middle Sea Race, of which Maltese boats have won nine editions. Other Maltese sailors have been present and left their mark on the international offshore circuit, producing outstanding results and etching their names in the annals of such races.
The Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Team concept has been made possible through an investment of approximately €400,000, born through an initiative submitted by Yachting Malta with the full support of the Government of Malta.
The Cookson 50 Viva Malta’s livery displays the colourful and vibrant Mediterranean character but also includes the famous eye of the luzzu so indelibly associated with the sea. The eyes are believed to derive from an old Phoenician tradition, referred to as the Eye of Osiris or Horus, the Phoenician’s god of protection from evil and good health. Viva Malta’s colours promise to definitely make her stand out in any fleet.
As Viva Malta has now been officially blessed and launched, it will enter its next phase wherein Yachting Malta will pass on the baton to SportMalta, who, in conjunction with the Malta Sailing Federation, will working together to manage this initiative and steer it to the offshore sailing circuit.
“Today, we will have the passage of transfer from Yachting Malta to Sport Malta so that the entity passes Viva Malta to Malta Sailing Federation. Through this initiative more young people continue to approach the sport of sailing which has always been synonymous with us Maltese through the Rolex Middle Sea Race and other various competitions.”
Mark Cutajar, CEO SportMalta
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