The traditional Freedom Day Regatta will be held this afternoon in Grand Harbour.

The programme which is expected to start at 1pm will offer four to five hours of spectacle, with the best crews forming part of the rowing teams from the cities bordering the Grand Harbour, including Cospicua, Kalkara, Marsa, Marsamxett (Valletta), Senglea, Vittoriosa and also Birzebbuga, will participate in 10 races under two different categories using typical traditional Maltese boats like the ‘frejgatini’, ‘kajjikki’ and ‘dghajjes tal-pass and tal-midalji’.

These boats were traditionally normal working watercraft which plied the local harbour. Over the years these boats have evolved into racing craft with certain modifications. These are also examined and weighed before the start of and end of the races.

The first three placings in each race are awarded a number of points and at the end of the Regatta, the club with the highest number of points, in the respective categories, is presented with the Aggregrate Shield.

The clubs taking part can be recognised by their traditional colours which include Birzebbuga (Red-White-Blue), Cospicua (Light Blue), Kalkara (Green), Marsa (Red-Blue), Marsamxett (Valletta) (Yellow), Senglea (Red-Yellow), and Vittoriosa (Red).

The 1,040 mtr race course is set up in the Valletta Grand Harbour where the magnificent Fort St Angelo provides an imposing backdrop to the sleek and colourful Maltese boats.

It is expected that a good crowd of spectators and supporters will converge along the waterfront and the surrounding bastions to watch the races, which is sure to be a colourful and spectacular event worth watching.

The races can be viewed from the water’s edge of the three cities (Birgu, Cospicua, and Senglea) or Valletta and are expected to finish at 6pm. For this occasion, Pinto Wharf 4 and 5 on the Valletta side is open to the general public.