Prior to the outbreak of hostilities in 1939, yacht and other boat races as well as the Regatta were organised in Malta. The Royal Malta Yacht Club was responsible for organising the yearly Regatta.

The 1930s saw the development of faster motorboats and other speed craft. Recently unearthed ephemera shed light on some racing activities organised between 1937 and 1938. The discovered documents reveal interesting historical information.

Royal Malta Yacht Club Regatta programme - 3 July 1937

This programme contains the names of the officers on the organising committee. According to the Club's 1937 programme, the Club was established at some date - not ascertainable but prior to 1873. The current Royal Malta Yacht Club website puts 1835 as the year when the Club was founded and that in 1873, the Admirality issued a warrant authorising the use of the Blue Ensign signifying that a vessel is either operated by or associated with the British government, or that its master or crew have a specific affiliation with the Royal Naval Reserve.

The following were the officers on the committee during 1937:

• Commodore - Sir Charles Bonham Carter, K.C.B., C.M.G., D. S.O.
• Vice Commodore - Vice Admiral W.T.R. Ford, C.B.
• Rear Commodore - J. C. Degiorgio, Esq.
• Hon. secretary (For General Purposes and Sailing Section) - F. H. Alderson, R.N.
• Hon. secretary (For Motor Boat Section) - Captain J. A. Sammut, R.M.A.
• Hon. treasurer - E. A Turner, Esq.
• Assistant Hon. treasurer - H. M. Blewett, Esq.

A commodore is a naval rank above captain and below rear admiral, generally given temporarily to an officer commanding a squadron or division of a fleet. A commodore is also the president of a yacht club or senior captain of a shipping line.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club Regatta 1937 was held in Marsamxetto Harbour by kind permission of the King's Harbour Master and Captain of the Ports.

The following events were listed:

1.      Service Whaler's Sailing Race, Scratch

2.      14 ft. International Dinghy Crew Race

3.      16 ft. R.Y.M.C. Class, Scratch

4.      Handicap Class 14ft. to 20 ft.

5.      Fregatini

6.      R.A.F. Sailing Club. One design dinghies and Lymington Scows

7.      R.Y.M.C. 12ft. National Dinghies

8.      Team Race

9.      Military Officers' Pulling Race (six oared gigs)

10.  Aquaplane Race

11.  Service Whaler's Pulling Race

12.  Speed Boat Race

Sailing Match: Italian Navy vs Royal Malta Yacht Club

On Wednesday 22 June 1938, the above event took place under international yacht racing rules. The programme was subject to alteration to suit the convenience of the visitors.

The match was to be sailed in eight 14 ft. international dinghies (four a side) owned and lent by members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

The starting line was off Tigne bathing place (men's section) which was to be marked by a flag pole on the bathing hut in line with the centre of a black and white canvas strip on the wall of a house in the rear.

If the weather was too rough outside, or if there was no wind outside, a harbour course was to be followed and the race was to start from the Clubhouse at the Haywharf. Bathers were asked to keep clear of the start and spectators in other boats were requested to keep well clear and to leeward of competitors.

Senglea United S. C.

Interestingly, a letter dated 30 July 1938 signed by Mr C. Martinelli, the Hon. secretary of the Senglea United S. C. addressed to the Hon. secretary of the Royal Malta Yacht Club F. H. Alderson, states that the Committe of the Senglea United S. C. was very pleased with the proposition of F. H. Alderson to hold annually a sailing race for the trophy which F. H. Alderson was awarding to the club.

The club also invited Alderson to attend this race which was to take place outside the Breakwater on Sunday, 21 August 1938 at 2pm, followed by the presentation of the trophy to the winner.

As the Senglea United S. C. were one week late in their Annual Sailing competition, this event was to consist of only one race, and as for the next was to consist of a seriers of races.

In his closing note, Martinelli said that, as founder of this annual race, the committee would be very obliged if Alderson presented a photo of himself in memory of this kind reward.

Another letter dated 5 August 1938 signed by Martinelli addressed to Lieutenant Commodore Alderson, R.N. and Assistant King's Harbour Master, Malta thanked Alderson for the beautiful trophy presented to the Club which had aroused great interest among the competitors who assured him that it would be a very keen race and very interesting to watch. He also remarked that the competitiors themselves had asked him to convey their heartfelt thanks for the beautiful trophy.

It was also decided that the presentation of the trophy would take place after the race at the Club's premises at 155, Strada San Giuseppe, Senglea. Finally, Martinelli thanked Alderson for accepting to present the Alderson Cup to the winner and for attending the race.

A rough sketch of the plan of the race was enclosed. This race was to take place outside the Breakwater.

The following are the names of the boats and helmsman taking part in the race as per list drawn up by Senglea United S.C:

The race resulted in a win for G. Scicluna's Cyclops followed by A. Cachia in Ardita, G. Brincat in Lorenza and L. Zarb in Eagle, J. Vella in Star, A. Gillard in Afridi, H. Baldarino in Iris, A. Camilleri in Brittania, G. Caruna in Sirena, F. Moon in St Patrick and A. Camilleri in Sally.

Lieutenant Commodore Alderston presented the cup to Mr G. Scicluna after the race at the Senglea United Club. In thanking him, the president of the Club proposed that Lieutenant Commodore Alderson should become Hon. president which he most kindly accepted.

The Regatta and other traditional boat racing were suspended in 1939 due to the outbreak of hostilities and Britain's declaration of war against Germany. The last edition was held that year and racing resumed after the war ended.