Water Lily, a Sunquest 40 motor yacht skippered by Joseph Scicluna was the winner of the 5th Edition of the Malta-Tunisia Yacht Rally. This twin engine boat, with a Colvic Craft super structure and hull built was assembled and finished by Scicluna himself and launched in June of 1999.
Joseph Scicluna has been a boating enthusiast since 1992 having owned a number of fishing and speed boats. This year’s Phoenician Experience marked a number of ‘firsts’ for Scicluna.
It was his first Malta-Tunisia Yacht rally, his first competitive event, his first visit to Tunisia with his personal boat, and of course his first win. Normally, his wife Maryrose, his children Oliver and Sarah and their spouses are his crew when out at sea but this time everybody had pressing commitments so he organised an all men crew – another first.
Earlier this year Joseph and Maryrose spent a holiday at El Kantaoui and stayed in a hotel but “Being a yachting enthusiast it is a completely different experience when travelling to a destination by boat and live on the marina”, remarked the proud winning skipper.
All crew members of the Rally flotilla expressed their satisfaction at the Rally in general where the 300Km Malta-Lampedusa-Tunisia course presented a pleasant and relaxing crossing mostly in calm waters and steady light winds while the courteous Tunisian hospitality was simply superb.
On arrival at El Kantaoui the Maltese yachts were welcomed with drinks with a finger buffet while all participants were hosted to a presentation of prizes dinner. All competing boats were even extended free berthing facilities during their week’s stay at El Kantaoui Marina, a haven described as “a very well-organized, clean, secured and a splendid atmosphere marina”.
Second and third places overall went to Jolini and to San Michele skippered by John Garside and Prof. Anthony Debono respectively. Last year’s winner Herman Baldacchino failed to make it a ‘Wishbone’ double but he still made the podium by winning the ‘Best Kept Log’.
The BOV runners-up Cups went to Meltemi I and to Maureen skippered by Prof. Edward Scicluna and Paul Gatt respectively. Malcolm Beetham with Jannic 5 won the Hard Luck Prize.
“With 14 yachts we were a small fleet yet it was an enjoyable experience appreciated by all crew and by a good number of their families who flew over to spend some relaxing time with the group”, remarked Roland Darmanin Kissaun, chairperson of the organising committee.
“From our side this is an anxiously-awaited Rally which gives us, the port authority and business community of El Kantaoui, an opportunity to welcome and host our yachting colleagues from Malta.
We look forward for more such events and even for individual visitors from our neighbouring Phoenician Island’, commented Monsieur Foued Daghfous President Directeur Génèral of Port El Kantaoui.
“After tasting this kind of successful experience I will definitely defend the title the next time around and I do encourage more skippers to join this enjoyable Rally”, exclaimed winner Joseph Scicluna.
The complete list of winners of the Malta-Tunisia Yacht Rally reads: 1998 – Mirador skippered by Donald Brincat; 1999 – Zarina skippered by Winston V. Zahra; 2000 – Fjuri skippered by Anthony Mangion; 2003 Wishbone skippered by Herman Baldacchino and 2005 Water Lily skippered by Joseph Scicluna.
The Malta-Tunisia Yacht Rally was held under the patronage of the Ministers of Tourism of Malta and Tunisia. The main sponsors of the 2005 Rally were the Bank of Valletta and the Tunisian airline Tuninter with other support extended by the Tunisian National Tourism Office.