By the following year, in 1822, the Victory Boat Race was introduced in the Grand Harbour, and the Saint Lawrence boat race ceased to be mentioned.

How, then, was the Victory Boat Race initiated? As with many traditions, the story has familiar elements. Observing that the long-established Portu Salvu boat race was losing popularity, several Senglean businessmen proposed to the Senglea parish priest that a new boat race be organised as part of the outdoor celebrations for the feast of Our Lady of Nativity, more commonly known as Il-Bambina. The parish priest warmly supported the initiative, welcoming the idea of honouring the parish's titular feast with a regatta in the Grand Harbour on the 8th of September - a date of great historical and religious significance which marks the end of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta and the end of the French occupation in 1800 ( apart from the end of the Italian bombardment of the Maltese islands during World War II).

Without delay, the organising committee sought and obtained permission from the port captain to hold the event.

Thus, on the 8th of September 1822, the first Victory Boat Race (It-Tiġrija tal-Vitorja) was held in the afternoon in the Grand Harbour. In a short time, this race became widely known under this title, and in the years that followed, it evolved into what is now referred to as the National Regatta.

From the beginning, this regatta attracted considerable enthusiasm - not only from the boatmen and fishermen who competed, but also from the many spectators who were familiar with the tradition of parochial boat races held on feast days. What made It-Tigrija tal-Vitorja particularly special was that it was not a parochial event limited to one town or church community - it was open to crews from other harbour-side localities, and monetary prizes were awarded to the winners in each of the four categories.

According to L-Istorja ta' Malta bil-Gżejjer tagħha (1888) by Pietro Castagna, participating crews hailed from Senglea, Bormla, Birgu, and Marsamxett. The regatta consisted of four categories:

• Ferilli (fishing boats) with four-man crews
• Dgħajjes tal-Pass (passenger boats) with four-man crews
• Dgħajjes tal-Pass with two-man crews
• Kajjikki Ħfief (fancy caiques), also with four-man crews

The kajjikk was a Maltese caique measuring approximately 18 feet (5.5 metres) in length.

The Victory Regatta quickly became the most prominent and celebrated of all the boat races of the time - a tradition now over 200 years old. In 1884, government ministers formally declared the 8th of September as Malta's National Day, commemorating the historic victory of the Maltese and the Knights over the Ottoman Turks during the Great Siege of 1565. The Victory Boat Race was incorporated into the national festivities. Over time, however, its original name faded, and it became known simply as the National Regatta. Nevertheless, it continued to be held on the 8th of September on the feast day of Our Lady of Nativity (Il-Vitorja).

At the turn of the 20th century, the National Regatta was described as the most spectacular sporting event of the summer season in Malta. Yet, despite its festive appearance, there was often little sportsmanship among the fiercely competing districts. Rivalries were intense! From start (Ras Ħanżir) to finish (Id-Dwana l-Antika), the races were marked by palpable tension. Often, races ended in scuffles between competing crews, while supporters clashed along Lascaris Wharf and up to the Custom.

According to historical records, the Marsamxetto crews dominated the National Regatta from the late 1870s until the outbreak of the First World War. During this period, they consistently challenged and often outperformed the Grand Harbour districts of Birgu, Bormla, and Senglea, which had long been known for producing some of the finest crews on the regatta course.

Marsamxetto's strength lay in its wide recruitment pool. Its district, encompassing Valletta, Sliema, Msida, Gżira, and St Julian's, brought together the best boats and  rowers from towns surrounding Marsamxetto Harbour. Until the First World War, Marsamxetto proved to be a formidable force. There were regatta editions where they dominated all four categories, securing not only first place but also second and third. In 1910, Marsamxetto crews triumphed in five categories, placed second in one, and third in three an extraordinary accomplishment.

For Marsamxetto rowers and their supporters, winning a Palju (linen flag) in the National Regatta was seen as a demonstration of strength, pride, and determination. The same passionate sentiment was equally held by the crews from the Cottonera districts. Unfortunately, this intense rivalry sometimes escalated into fierce clashes, both on the water and among spectators. Collisions during races, scuffles at the finish line, and crowd confrontations often required police intervention to restore order.

In preparation for the September regatta, Marsamxetto supporters would organise local races in the harbour using Frejgatini (a traditional fishing boat, its name meaning 'little frigate') and Dgħajjes tax-Xogħol (passenger boats) to evaluate their rowers. Their main rivals remained the Cottonera districts. The bitter rivalry between Senglea, Bormla, and Birgu, geographically close and steeped in parochial pride was rooted in tradition and history dating back to the earliest boat races. This competition endures to this day in both of the national regattas held annually in the Grand Harbour.

The regatta was suspended during the First World War (1914-1918), although it is believed that a scaled-down version may have been held in 1919. Due to a political crisis, only three races were reportedly run, with no official results published. However, a photograph of the Marsa Four-Oared Pass Boat bearing a Palju at the Marsa Regatta Club suggests that the event did in fact take place.

Interviews with former rowers who participated between the two world wars (1920-1938) confirm that the regattas of that era were highly competitive and spectacular, marked by intense rivalry between crews from both harbours. In such a high-stakes sporting event, the desire to win a Palju fuelled every crew's motivation.

Marsamxetto vs. Cottonera Disticts: Intense rivalry across various boat categories between 1920 to 1938

One might ask: does this rivalry still exist today between Marsamxetto and the Three Cities? How was it perceived by the thousands of spectators lining the racecourse? How far did it manifest during the races themselves?

The Cottonera districts, with their historic claim to boat racing in the Grand Harbour, long viewed Valletta (and later Marsamxetto) as challengers. Before Marsamxetto was formally established as a regatta district in the mid-19th century, Valletta itself held boat races in honour of Our Lady of Liesse, whose church stands near the old Custom House.

By the 1850s, the Grand Harbour had become congested with British naval vessels. Over 500 dgħajjes (passenger boats) operated in the harbour, some of them serving British ships or ferrying passengers across the water. When the British Admiralty shifted some of its fleet to Marsamxetto, several barklori (boatmen) and their families relocated to Msida, Gżira, Sliema, and St Julian's. These towns already had a significant fishing population using Ferilli (fishing boats), and this mix of fishermen and boatmen provided a broad talent pool for regatta crews.

Valletta enthusiasts pushed for unity among these Marsamxetto Harbour communities. They proposed that rather than competing as individual towns, these boatmen and fishermen should join forces and race under a single banner of Marsamxetto. This idea was embraced. While boats were still registered under their respective towns (e.g., Gżira, Msida, Sliema, St Julian's), for regatta purposes, they united with Valletta to compete as one district. This is supported by newspaper reports published prior to the First World War.

In terms of sheer manpower and maritime resources, Marsamxetto became the strongest regatta district. Unlike Cottonera's smaller, more self-contained districts - Senglea, Bormla, and Birgu, the district of Marsamxetto drew from a wide base, combining experience, skill, and resources across multiple communities. Still, the rivalry between the Cottonera cities themselves remained fierce, fuelled by historical tensions and proximity. This internal competition often resulted in aggressive and intimidating racing behaviour where clashes persisted throughout the regatta course.

Between the wars, Marsa also competed regularly in all categories, while Kalkara's involvement was more limited, generally participating in two or three events. Still, the enduring showdown remained between Marsamxetto and the Cottonera districts, whose deep-seated rivalry was,and still is, a hallmark of the National Regatta.

Official records. confirm the intense rivalry among the participating districts across various boat categories The rivalries were as follows:

• Marsamxetto and Senglea: Fishing Boats (Ferilli) and Fancy Caiques (Kajjikki)
• Marsamxetto and Bormla: Fancy Boats (Midalji) and Two-Oared Pass Boats (Ta' Bi Tnejn)
• Marsamxetto and Birgu: Fancy Boats (Midalji) and Four-Oared Pass Boats (Ta' Bl-Erbgħa)
• Senglea and Birgu: Fancy Caiques (Kajjikki) and Four-Oared Pass Boats (Ta' Bl-Erbgħa)
• Senglea and Bormla: Fancy Caiques (Kajjikki) and Four-Oared Pass Boats (Ta' Bl-Erbgħa)
• Bormla and Birgu: Pass Boats in both Two-Oared (Ta' Bi Tnejn)  and Four-Oared (Ta' Bl-Erbgħa) categories

This rivalry manifested vividly in every regatta. Heated arguments and scuffles often erupted between rival crews, especially after collisions on the water. Despite police efforts to maintain order, confrontations sometimes escalated both during and after races. On some occasions, rival supporters were detained at the Valletta Wharf police station, some released post-event without charges, while others faced court proceedings.

Between 1920 and 1938 (last edition before the war), the National Regatta continued to be held along the course from Ras Ħanżir (Marsa) to the old Customs House. Each edition was fiercely competitive, with crews vying passionately for victory. Unfortunately, in several editions, rivalry and antagonism overshadowed the sporting spirit of the event. However, most races showcased the skill, determination, and professionalism of the crews. For many rowers, winning a Palju in the National Regatta was, and still remains a milestone and personal achievement symbolizing strength and perseverance.

The National Regatta was a spectacular annual event, drawing thousands of enthusiastic spectators who lined every vantage point on land and sea around the racecourse. However, the outbreak of the Second World War brought an abrupt halt to the regatta. Although crews trained intensively throughout the summer of 1939, the regatta was cancelled following the British declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939.

The interruption lasted until 1951, partly due to shipwrecks (notably the MV Talabot) lying along the racecourse. In 1951, to compensate for the break in continuity of the National Regatta, several Valletta enthusiasts organised a regatta in honour of the feast of Our Lady of Carmel on 16 July in Marsamxetto Harbour.Once the wrecks were cleared, regatta enthusiasts and club delegates from Senglea, Birgu, and Marsa petitioned the customs collector, historically responsible for organising the regatta to reinstate the event. Their goal was to revive the National Regatta as an annual tradition, as before the war.