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Malta Rolex Cup Regatta
After four days of competitive racing
around the azure waters of Malta, Gozo and Comino, Cuore Sportivo,
the Beneteau 25 sports boat skippered by Georges Bonello DuPuis,
won the Racer Class and overall honours in the Malta Rolex Cup
Regatta 2000, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and sponsored
by Rolex of Geneva and Messrs Edwards Lowell Co Ltd, local representatives
for Rolex in Malta. Anton Valentino, skipper and owner of First
Ever, a Beneteau 32s5 , convincingly won the Cruiser division.
Both Cuore Sportivo and First Ever won two hotly contested classes
with all top local sailors taking to the waters over the Mnarja
weekend.
In the Racing Division, Georges Bonello DuPuis had to do battle
with Alfred Manduca sailing another Beneteau 25; Christian Ripard
on Bigfoot, a J-105 and previous winner of the Middle Sea Race;
and John Ripard Jr on board Jailbird. Other entrants in the
Racing Division included Moondance helmed by Mathew Gatt, J-Lance
with Martin Borg Nicolas at the helm, Godwin Zammit on board
Revenge and Sam Pantaleresco on SS Claire. After an absence
of two years, Paul Ripard Sr made a welcome return to the racing
circuit with his J-80 Jester.
In the Cruiser Division, Anton Valentino sailed First Ever to
perfection over four days of sometimes stressful conditions.
The competition was just as fierce in their class, with Ray
Vassallo on board Eleanor and Simon Bonello on board Kartali
both finishing the series with sixteen points each, Ray Vassallo
eventually claiming second when the tie was eventually broken.
A new entry into the sailing circuit was Sandro Mussu's new
acquisition Ages of Gaia, which finished in an excellent fourth
position in its very first outing. Anthony Camilleri on board
Blue Diamond came in fifth position followed by Club Commodore
Arthur Podesta on Elusive. Primavera II, Sephora, Angelique
Piaget, Spritzig, Latina, Victoria Moody and White Star concluded
the Cruiser Division.
Sunday evening at the Royal Malta Yacht Club was the venue for
the prize-giving ceremony as sailors celebrated an extremely
successful regatta. Club Commodore Arthur Podesta thanked David
Farrugia, the Principal Race Officer, and the bridge for all
their hard work throughout the weekend and all the sailors for
making this event such a success. Special thanks went to Jan
Du Packet from Rolex Geneva and Mr and Mrs Malcolm Lowell for
sponsoring the Yacht Club and putting the Malta Rolex Cup Regatta
firmly on the Rolex Cup International Sailing Calendar. Georges
Bonello DuPuis and Anton Valentino each walked away with a Rolex
Submariner Timepiece kindly donated by Edwards Lowell Co Ltd
and Rolex of Geneva. Mrs. Lowell then presented Georges Bonello
DuPuis and the entire crew of Cuore Sportivo with the large
silver Rolex Cup Trophy for taking overall honours. Arthur Podesta
then presented both Mr. Jan Du Packet and Mr. Malcolm Lowell
with a silver tray each in appreciation of their support to
the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
Georges DuPuis, Cuore Sportivo
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