Malta’s VivaMalta Racing Team has secured a major milestone, winning the first race it has ever participated in, marking a significant turnaround for a project that had previously faced scrutiny over delays in taking to the water.

The victory comes in the team’s debut international outing, where a young Maltese crew not only competed but secured line honours after navigating a demanding offshore race spanning over 644 nautical miles.

The team, composed of sailors with an average age of 26, faced a range of extreme conditions, from prolonged periods of no wind to intense weather systems with wind speeds reaching up to 40 knots and waves estimated at five to six metres. Several competing teams were forced to retire due to the adverse conditions, though no injuries were reported.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt, crew member George Mifsud Orlando described the experience as both challenging and defining.

“The race was tough and provided many challenges for our young crew,” he says. “We spent hours in no wind trying to reach the next weather system as efficiently as possible, and at other times we were dealing with very rough conditions.”

Despite the demanding environment, the team remained cohesive throughout.

“The crew and boat were thoroughly tested in our first time out competing internationally, and I’m very glad about how everyone held up,” he adds.

The VivaMalta project brought together a group of sailors who had largely grown up competing against one another, now united on a single vessel. This shift, while powerful, required careful preparation.

“The main challenge was aligning an entire crew of 12 used to different dynamics and boats,” Mr Mifsud Orlando explained. “We brought a wealth of experience from both local and foreign competitions, and we learnt a lot through hands-on work with the boat, guided by our captain Ramon Sant Hill.”

The emotional weight of the victory was compounded by the uncertainty that followed the finish line.

“Taking line honours was a great start, but the overall win was not confirmed until the next day as other competitors were still racing,” he says. “The adrenaline is still pumping. Everything is still sinking in. The consensus is that we can’t believe we just lived out a collective dream.”

The win represents a turning point for the VivaMalta initiative, which was launched to provide a platform for Maltese sailors to compete internationally. In 2025, the project had come under criticism after reports highlighted that the €400,000 racing yacht had remained unused for over two years following its launch.

Now, with a decisive victory in its first outing, the narrative surrounding the project is shifting.

“The first Viva Malta crew is motivated to develop further and push for even better results,” Mr Mifsud Orlando said.