Aristos Chatzistamatiou, Niall Peelo win respective classes at the Yachting Malta EurILCA Masters Series
The third and final day of the Yachting Malta EurILCA Masters Series, hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club made up for the disappointing weather conditions that hit Malta in the past two days, resulting in the first day of racing being postponed and only two races being able to take place on the second day.
The second day of racing saw an early morning start as an opportunity to get the most out of the light wind and flat water conditions delivered to the ILCA 6 & 7 sailors. Later in the day, the sun would set to stay and bring with it another glorious day in Malta. The wind, however, dropped significantly, forcing the Race Committee to abandon further races and send the fleet ashore. On Saturday, the ILCA 7 championship was led by Cristoph Marsano (AUT), followed by Wolfgang Gerz (GER) and Aristos Chatzistamatiou (GRE), whilst the ILCA 6 championship was led by Rob Cage (GBR), followed by Vadim Yakhinson (MDA) and Max Hunt (GBR).
With the podium contention being strong, racing on Sunday promised to be exhilarating and the fleet surely did not disappoint, with positions changing regularly throughout the proceedings.
A slightly later than planned start due to low wind conditions, which were around 4 knots at the time, it eventually built up to a steady 7 to 8 knots meaning that four races were able to take place.
The ILCA 6 Class podium was an all GBR team and was won by Niall Peelo. Peelo, who finished yesterday’s event in fourth place saw him take two wins, to him knock off Rob Cage from first place by just one point. In third place was Max Hunt.
Meanwhile, changes were also experienced in the ILCA 7 Class. The top three sailors from the second day still kept their place on the podium albeit in different places. Yesterday’s third placed Aristos Chatzistamatiou (GRE) saw him climb to the top with ten points, thus winning the Class, whilst yesterday’s leader Cristoph Marsano (AUT) and Wolfgang Gerz (GER) both slipped one place to finish the event in second and third place respectively.
“Despite the weather not fully co-operating with our plans, Malta still managed to put up a good show in the end. The exhilarating racing outside Sliema seafront was a veritable feast of sailing” enthused David Cremona, Commodore of hosts Royal Malta Yacht Club.
Yachting Malta Chairman Jonathan Borg remarked that “It is of great satisfaction to welcome our international friends to experience and savour what Malta has to offer”.
The 2023 EurILCA Master Series consists of a total 13 events, and the next event will take place in Saint Raphael France.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club expressed its gratitude to sponsors Yachting Malta as well as the Race Committee and volunteers made up of Race Officer Ron Barak (ISR) Martin Azzopardi, Crispin Gauci Peresso, Maurizio Jacono, Michael Mifsud, Piero Picone, and Ian Robertson, who contributed towards the success of the event.
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