This race was held yesterday off the Sliema shoreline this weekend with the final event held yesterday morning in excellent sailing conditions.

Fourteen boats took part in the race whose winners have earned the right to represent Malta in the world finals of the event to be held in Valencia in April next year.

Six countries will be sending their finalists (winners). Apart from Malta, also taking part in the premiere BMW Sailing Cup are England, Spain, Denmark, Germany and Austria.

The BMW Sailing Cup was created this year following the example of the BMW Golf Cup international, the largest global amateur golf series with over 100,000 participants last year.

The finals in Valencia next year will be held just before the Louis Vuitton Cup regatta, which will determine the challenger of America’s Cup defenders Alinghi.

Following the world final, the participants will have the opportunity to get a first hand impression of the first regatta day of the Louis Vuitton Cup. They will also be able to witness the preparations for the races directly in the Team base and the races will be followed from a spectator boat.

The world final is scheduled for April 13 to 19. It also includes a one-day visit to the Formula BMW Centre. During that visit, the finalists will be able to complete a few laps on the ‘Circuit de la Comunitat’ in Valencia, behind the wheel of a racing car.