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AS YACHTING MALTA CELEBRATES ITS SECOND ANNIVERSARY AND HOLDS ITS FIRST EVER AWARDS, IGGY FENECH SITS DOWN WITH CEO WILFRID BUTTIGIEG TO DISCUSS THE ACHIEVEMENTS, THE PASSION AND THE DEDICATION THAT HAS MADE YACHTING ONE OF THE ISLAND’S FAVOURITE SPORTS.
Article published on Sunday Circle magazine, distributed with The Sunday Times, Sunday 5th March 2017.
Malta’s location in the heart of the Mediterranean has always played a key role as a sea faring nation. In recent years, Malta’s maritime pursuits have seen the country’s yachting activity grow through the development of sector from a sport and industry perspective.
This growth was made possible through the passion, tireless energy and expertise that a number of individuals, clubs and organisations have contributed over a stretch of time. The success of the sport and industry is a testimony of the efforts made by these individuals. Yachting Malta felt that the time was ripe to recognise and give tribute to such individuals.
The Yachting Malta Awards, launched in December 2016, were designed to acknowledge these efforts and the general public was invited to submit nominations.
“Yachting Malta felt that it was appropriate to honour and celebrate the outstanding and lifetime contributions of key stakeholders in sport and industry through the first edition of the Yachting Malta Awards – their efforts have certainly made an impact on what has become a flourishing sector” explained Wilfrid Buttigieg, CEO Yachting Malta. “Reading through the wide spectrum of nominations is not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder of the efforts and challenges that such individuals embarked upon to bring the industry and sport to be what it is today and as a basis for future growth.”
2017 Yachting Malta Award Nominees
The nominees vying for the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Yachting’ award are:
Kurt Arrigo – International Award Winning Photographer
Teddie Borg – Sailing Media Pioneer
Aaron Ciantar – Four-time Powerboat World Champion
Robert Corcoran – Luxury Boat Captain & Yachting in Malta Promoter
Gino Cutajar – President of the Super Yacht Industry Network (Malta)
Roland Darmanin Kissaun – Yachting Industry Pioneer (1970’s)
Joe Degabriele – Super Yacht Industry Expert
Jean Paul Fleri Soler – National Sailing Coach
Malcolm Lowell – Entrepreneur & key supporter of the Rolex Middle Sea Race
Arthur Podesta – Past Commodore Royal Malta Yacht Club, Skilled Yachtsman
Gerald Portanier – Commodore, Vikings Sailing Club
Christian Ripard – Skilled International Yachtsman
John Ripard – Yachtsman, International Judge, co-founder of Rolex Middle Sea Race
Paul Ripard – Middle Sea Race Co- Founder, Olympian & Yachting Entrepreneur
Anna Rossi – President, Malta Sailing Federation
Lee Satariano – Yachtsman, Rolex Middle Sea Race
Wilfred Sultana – Journalist, Publisher and Events Organiser
The nominations are currently being vetted by the Yachting Malta Board of Directors. The winners of the first Yachting Malta Awards will be announced during a gala evening to be held on Friday 17th February at the Westin Dragonara Ballroom, St. Julian’s.
Yachting Malta would like to thank Mercedes-Benz, Simon Estates, Charles Grech and Transport Malta for their support.
For more information about the nominees and reservations please visit – www.yachtingmalta.org/awards or contact the team on awards@yachtingmalta.org or +356 999 777 78.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club’s publication Spinnaker Magazine caught up with Wilfrid Buttigieg, CEO of Yachting Malta, who explains Yachting Malta’s role within the industry, what contribution it has done so far and where it is going.
Read more about it via the link below
Yachting Malta CEO Wilfrid Buttigieg announced the launch of the inaugural Yachting Malta Awards which will be held at the Westin Dragonara on the evening of the 17th February 2017.
The announcement was made at a Press conference held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, in the presence of Hon. Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport and members of the Yachting community.
“The development of yachting, both as a sport and industry, was possible as a result of the contribution of many individuals, clubs or organisations over a stretch of time. The board of Directors of Yachting Malta believes that the time is ripe for an appropriate recognition.” explained Wilfrid Buttigieg, CEO Yachting Malta. “The first edition will look at the past since the focus will be on nominations for lifetime or outstanding contributions to yachting. During the evening of the first ever Yachting Malta Awards we will announce the award categories for the subsequent edition which will range beyond outstanding awards alone and include awards such as the official, commodore, entrepreneur or young sailor of the year.”
Nominations are being accepted and are to be submitted online. Each nomination has to be supported by a substantive description together with dates of achievements mentioned in the submission. All entries will be vetted by a Yachting Malta adjudication board, composed of Yachting Malta CEO Wilfrid Buttigieg and Directors Mr. Anthony D’Amato and Mr. Paul Muscat. The submission of nominations will close on Friday the 10th February 2017 at noon.
During the press conference Buttigieg also announced that Yachting Malta would be, for the second year running, supporting the Mapfre Middlesea Euromed International Regatta which kicks off on Sunday 18th December and which will see around 250 sailors, representing 21 countries race in Mellieha Bay competing in Optimist and Laser Classes.
“Yachting Malta is proud to support, once again, a long standing initiative such as the Euromed Regatta which serves as an appropriate testimonial to showcase Malta’s potential as a young sailors’ destination.” observed Buttigieg.
Also addressing the press conference were the Hon. Chris Agius, Ms. Anna Rossi – Hon. Secretary, Malta Young Sailors’ Club organisers of the Mapfre Middlesea Euromed International Regatta and Mr. Felipe Navarro, CEO, Mapfre Middlesea Insurance.
Hon. Chris Agius remarked “Such events would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of volunteers whose contribution is invaluable. The Government is working to increase Malta’s sports tourism potential and Maltese athlete’s participation abroad which has proved highly successful in sailing events such as Euromed.”
More information about the Yachting Malta Awards can be found on www.yachtingmalta.org/awards/
The Yacht Racing Forum, co-hosted by Yachting Malta and Yachting Events kicks off today bringing to Malta the largest annual networking event for the sailing and yacht racing community, where over 300 key industry players will meet to discuss the issues facing the sport and to share best practices.
At a press conference held prior to the start of the event, Yachting Malta CEO Wilfrid Buttigieg, explained that “Yachting Malta is a very young organization with a wide remit, addressing a multitude of areas including education, marketing, research, infrastructure, super yachts and events”. Buttigieg continued to emphasize that from the list, Yachting Malta’s highest priority remains the attraction of new high profile events.
The Press Conference was also addressed by the Minister for Finance Prof. Edward Scicluna, Mr. Bernard Schopfer, CEO, Maxcomm Communications organiser of the Forum, Mr. Andy Hunt, CEO World Sailing, the sports’ governing body and Mr. Peter Valentino, director Yachting Events Ltd who are also co-hosts of this event.
The Forum is being attended by leading industry publications from all over the world and includes Seahorse International Magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe and Icarus Sailing Media an award winning and upcoming Media house.
High Level speakers, present for the Forum include Andrew Hurst, publisher and editor of Seahorse magazine considered world’s number one yacht racing magazine, Tucker Thompson – official host of 35th America’s cup and TV commentator, Jean Baptist Durier – Amaury a renowned Sport Organisation – company and Ken Read – one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated sailors who was also named “United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year” twice and winner of nine World Championships.
The Yacht Racing Forum is taking place at the Grand Hotel Excelsior between Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th November.
A Detailed programme of events can be found on www.yachtracingforum.com
Prof. Edward Scicluna – Minister of finance of Malta