Motoring dec 2016

AUDI Q2 COMPACT SUV DISCOVER EASTERN FRANCE’S BOUNTIFUL VINEYARDS AND LEGENDARY CUISINE also FRENCH VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT > CHAMPAGNE JACQUART

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The Malta Independent on Sunday. December 2016

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IN THIS ISSUE: FERRARI J50 WORLD PREMIERE | VOLKSWAGEN PERFORMANCE | BEST IN CLASS CARS OF 2016 | THE LONDON BOAT SHOW MAPFRE MIDDLESEA EUROMED REGATTA 2016 | MEDCOMMS ROUND MALTA RACE

Notre Dame Cathedral Reims

DISCOVER EASTERN FRANCE’S BOUNTIFUL VINEYARDS AND LEGENDARY CUISINE

THE BOUNTIFUL VINEYARDS, CLASSIC VILLAGES, AND HEARTY CUISINE OF EASTERN FRANCE ARE LEGENDARY. STARTING IN THE EFFERVESCENT CHAMPAGNE CAPITAL OF REIMS, YOU CAN EXPLORE VERDUN'S HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS, COLMAR'S COBBLED LANES, ALSACE'S MEANDERING ROUTE DU VIN, BURGUNDY'S FABLED CÔTE D'OR, CHAMONIX'S MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS, PROVENCE'S SCENIC CÔTES DU RHÔNE, AND EXQUISITE AIX-ENPROVENCE. EASTERN FRANCE PROVIDES THE PERFECT FOODIE'S DRIVING TRIP.

REIMS Just 45 minutes from central Paris by train, Reims is famous for its royal history, its towering cathedral and Champagne. It's the unofficial capital of the Champagne wine-growing region, and many of the champagne houses headquartered there offer tastings and cellar tours. The 3rd-century Porte de Mars triumphal arch marks the town's time under Roman rule. More than two dozen kings and queens of France were crowned here over the course of six centuries at its Cathédrale Notre-Dame.

CHAMONIX COLMAR

Colmar is a town in the Alsace region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany. Its old town has cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings. The 13th-century, Gothic Eglise Saint-Martin church stands on central Place de la Cathédrale. The city is on the Alsace Wine Route, and local vineyards specialize in Riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (usually shortened to Chamonix) is a resort area near the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. At the base of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest point, it's renowned for its skiing. Yearround, cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border. Chamonix is the perfect place to enjoy a traditional dinner of raclette or fondue.

CÔTES DU RHÔNE Driving south from Europe's highest summit to sunny Provence, the countryside along the way is spectacular with some of Europe's most picturesque villages and vineyards and wineries. Here you can sample some formidable Côtes du Rhône wines at their source.

VERDUN'S HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS A very important historical site in Verdun is the Citadelle, which stands on a site where there once stood an Abbey, built by the Merovingian kings. The early parts of the citadel date back to the reign of Henry IV (15531610), later continued by Vauban. During World War I it formed the first shelter for the population, which was quickly evacuated, and it was occupied only by troops.

The region around Verdun includes the historic WW1 battlefields. Several monuments pay testimony to the war, including the Victory Monument, erected in 1929 on the ruins of the ancient Roman city walls.

THE ROUTE DU VIN Colorful villages and vineyards carpet the foothills of the Vosges Mountains along the route du vin — birthplace of the region's very dry Rieslings and aromatic Gewürztraminers.

BURGUNDY Famous for its Burgundy wines as well as Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, Chablis and Beaujolais. Burgundy is crisscrossed by a network of canals and studded with grand châteaux. The capital, Dijon, of mustard fame, is home to the imposing Palace of the Dukes, where the distinguished Musée des Beaux-Arts was established in 1787. Burgundy's legendary and beautiful Côte d'Or wine country is perfect to explore and have lunch at a winery.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE Aix-en-Provence is a university city and the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. A walking trail links sites including his childhood home, Jas de Bouffan, and his former studio, Atelier Cézanne. The white limestone mountain Sainte-Victoire overlooking the city as well as the surrounding countryside were frequent subjects of his works. The town is made up of intertwining colorful lanes, shops, galleries and restaurants.

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FRENCH VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT >

CHAMPAGNE JACQUART CHAMPAGNE JACQUART, BASED IN REIMS IN THE HEART OF CHAMPAGNE, IS ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST DYNAMIC AND FORWARD LOOKING PRODUCERS. PART OF THE ALLIANCE CHAMPAGNE GROUP, THEY HAVE THE LARGEST AREA OF VINEYARDS IN CHAMPAGNE AT THEIR DISPOSAL. WITH ACCESS TO SUCH A DIVERSE AND PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF QUALITY GRAPES, MAISON JACQUART'S WINEMAKERS ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE AND THEN BLEND WINES THAT REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF THE DIFFERENT TERROIRS, PRODUCING FINAL CUVÉES THAT EACH HAVE A DISTINCTIVE STYLE AND PERSONALITY.

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hampagne Jacquart was founded in 1964 in Reims, Champagne by a group of 18 grapegrowers. This group has since grown to approximately 1800 growers, who collectively own close to 2500 hectares (6177 acres) of vineyards. The wines are made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and the house style is fresh and fruitfocused, without the influence of too much oak.

The house has access to grapes from grand cru and premier cru appellations in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. The grapes are all handpicked and transferred to the Jacquart cellars where they are softly pressed. The juice is then fermented in vats before the wine goes through malolactic fermentation. The wines are bottled for the second fermentation and aged for at least three years on their lees before they are disgorged and released.

There are three ranges at Champagne Jacquart: the Mosaique, the vintage and the Alpha series. The nonvintage Mosaique collection is in reference to the mosaic of areas from which Jacquart source their grapes; within this collection are brut, extra-brut and rosé expressions, and Chardonnay is the dominant grape. The brut and rosé wines spend three years aging on their lees, while the extra brut ages for five years in the cellar. The Alpha is the prestige cuvée from the house and is made from equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These grapes are sourced from four crus in the Montagne de Reims: Mailly, Trépail, Villers-Marmery and Verzenay. The wine is aged for six years in the cellars before being released.

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BRUT ‘MOSAÏQUE’ CHAMPAGNE JACQUART

Elegant, floral nose with hints of citrus fruit, white peaches and pears. It has a pure and clean style.A blend where Chardonnay is the dominant grape variety (35%40%), giving Brut Mosaïque its freshness and delicate aromas. Pinot Noir (35%-40%) adds structure and Pinot Meunier (25% -30%) brings fruit.

Pairings/Accompaniments: Anytime! Day or night, as an aperitif or with fish or cheese. For a special (occasion) meal or for sharing with friends, Brut Mosaïque makes the moment.

Floriane Eznack, Head Winemaker at Jacquart since 2011

Champagne Jacquart can be enjoyed locally or experienced first hand at Jacquart, 34 Boulevard Lundy, 51100 Reims, France. Phone: +33326078840. Locally Champagne Jacquart is imported by Attard and Co and available from Sistina Wine & Co.,The Strand Gzira. Opening hours: 10am till late.

W: www.sistinawineco.com F: www.facebook.com/sistinawineco T: 2131 4161.

Gozo Distributor: Abraham’s Supplies Co. Ltd. T: 2156 3231 W: www.abrahams.com.mt

STAYING CALM

and courteous on the road THERE ARE TIMES WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DEMANDS AN EXTRA EFFORT ON OUR PART TO KEEP CALM. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO AVOID ROAD RAGE, BUT AN ACT OF COURTEOUSNESS TO OTHER DRIVERS CAN REALLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE TO THEIR DAY. IT DOESN’T COST A THING TO BE NICE TO OTHERS, HELP MAKE EVERYONE’S JOURNEY SAFER AND MORE PLEASANT. HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY CALM ON THE ROAD WRITES PAUL VELLA, RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.

SALES GROWTH MAKES NOVEMBER A MONTH TO

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FOR AUDI

• AROUND 154,050 DELIVERIES WORLDWIDE IN THE MONTH – AN INCREASE OF 4.3 PERCENT • SALES CHIEF DIETMAR VOGGENREITER: “EUROPE STRONGEST GROWTH ENGINE, UP NINE PERCENT IN NOVEMBER” • EUROPE LAUNCH FOR AUDI Q2 AND A5 udi continues its course of growth: The brand’s deliveries totalled 154,050 units in the month of November, a 4.3 percent increase compared with the same period in 2015. Demand rose sharply in Europe where two important new models, the Audi Q2 and the Audi A5, were recently brought to market.

Across the entire portfolio, sales in the region increased by 9.5 percent to around 68,200 cars.

Since the start of the year around 1,713,900 customers worldwide decided to buy an Audi, 4.2 percent more than in the same period last year.

“This year Europe is the strongest growth engine for Audi.

Despite numerous political and economic uncertainties, we managed to increase sales substantially in all our large European markets,” says Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “The launch of the new Audi Q2 in Europe further underpins this development. The compact SUV will be an important sales driver in the region in future, as already demonstrated by current orders.”

The market introduction of the new Audi A5 is also already reflected in the sales total. For instance, sales of the A5 Coupé in Europe doubled to around 1,130 units in November. The sustained high level of demand for the new Audi A4 had an equally positive effect on the delivery results. With around 12,200 units sold, the mid-sized model exceeded the same month in 2015 by 51.6 percent.

Across all models, Audi

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increased sales in Europe by 9.5 percent to around 68,200 units in the past month. Between January and November a total of around 795,050 customers in Europe received keys for their new Audi, 7.1 percent more than one year ago. The Four Rings also performed well in Europe with its highperformance portfolio from Audi Sport, most notably with the Audi R8. Since the start of the year deliveries of the Audi R8 increased by 27 percent to around 1,370 units.

In North America too, Audi sales continued to perform positively towards the end of the year. Deliveries increased by 3.6 percent to around 20,850 units in November. Canada reported the highest growth rate in the region, with the 2,455 units sold equivalent to a 13.2 percent increase in sales. Audi of America also managed to further expand sales by 2.5 percent to 17,118 units. Cumulative deliveries of the Four Rings totalled 187,018 units in the U.S. market, 2.9 percent more than in the previous year. The Audi Q7 plays an important role in this respect, with the United States constituting its most important sales market worldwide. More than one in four customers of the full-size SUV comes from the United States. Since the new generation was introduced in January, U.S. deliveries of the Q7 increased by a substantial double-digit figure every month.

The Q7 has grown by around 53.3 percent to 27,288 units in the market since the start of the year. Worldwide, around 91,450 customers decided to buy the model this year, up 40 percent.

BEFORE STARTING OUT Vehicle breakdowns are a major source of stress. Ensure that your car is regularly services and well maintained.

Plan your journey well. If you’re taking a different route from usual, or travelling long-distance abroad, take the time to familiarise yourself with the route on a map. Allow plenty of time for the journey and set off early to avoid rushing.

ON THE ROAD Obey the speed limit and be tolerant of other road users, no matter how bad their behaviour.

Don’t take their driving habits personally.

Say ‘thank you’ whenever you need to, for example when

another driver gives way to you at a busy junction. Apologise when you make a mistake as this can help to diffuse and defuse anger.

DO: Concentrate on the road ahead and obey the speed limits.

Maintain a safe distance from the car ahead of you and use your indicators when turning or overtaking.

Respect pedestrians’ right of way.

DON’T: Drive too close to the car in front, use your horn excessively, or make obscene or threatening gestures at other drivers.

Block other drivers from overtaking you, nor be distracted by your passengers, mobile phone, radio or food.

PAY ATTENTION TO OTHER ROAD USERS

As a driver, you need to be on a constant lookout for other road users including pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.Too often, drivers act as if they are the king of the road and refuse to give right of way to pedestrians or cyclists.This is not just rude, it is also dangerous.You need to show some responsibility towards the safety of other road users.

Motorcyclists Look out for motorcyclists any time you are on the road. Don’t just trust your mirrors.

Motorcyclists can be hidden in your blind spot.Turn and look over your shoulder to be sure.

Do not speed up when a motorcyclist is trying to overtake you.

Anticipate a motorcyclist swerving to avoid potholes or obstructions on the road.

If you are a motorcyclist, be aware of how your weaving in and out of lanes can shock and unsettle other drivers in cars, especially when cars are stuck in traffic, or at traffic lights.

CYCLISTS When passing cyclists give them at least two metres clearance as you pass them.This is because of the wind turbulence your vehicle creates.

Cyclists may swerve to avoid potholes in the road, so be extra careful. Also always look out for cyclists when turning at junctions or roundabouts.

Happy Motoring by RMF. May we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous healthy New Year.

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THE FERRARI J50World Premiere

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uring a special celebration held at the National Art Center in Tokyo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ferrari in Japan, Ferrari revealed a new strictly limited series of bespoke cars, the J50.

The Ferrari J50 is a two-seater, midrear-engined roadster that marks a return to the targa body style evocative of several well-loved Ferrari road cars of the 1970s and 1980s. Created by Ferrari’s Special Projects department and designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre team in Maranello, just 10 examples of the J50 will be built and, in the spirit of Ferrari’s fuori serie tradition, each one will be tailored specifically to the customer’s requirements.

Based on the 488 Spider, the J50 is powered by a specific 690 cv version of the 3.9-litre V8 that won the overall International Engine of the Year Award this year.

The bodywork is all new and heralds a radically futuristic design language, with a highly distinctive personality that suits the tastes of a clientele that seeks the utmost in innovative styling. The design approach was led by the desire to create a very low-slung roadster, encapsulating intrinsic Ferrari values of nimbleness and agility.

While the “helmet visor” effect, which spawns from the window graphic, is reminiscent of Ferrari’s open competition barchettas going as far back

as the 1950s, the black dividing line is a novel interpretation of a recurring Ferrari styling cue seen on iconic models such as the GTO, F40 and F50. Circling around the front of the car below knee height, it is a key element which alters the perception of the beltline, setting it at a much lower height than usual,

transforming the J50 into a barchetta.

The J50 benefits from detailed aerodynamic development with a number of significant functional solutions. Firstly, the radiators have been positioned closer together, and the front bumper has been completely redesigned. The windscreen header rail

has been lowered allowing more airflow over the aero foil and thus over the rear spoiler.

The J50 presented at the launch in Tokyo is finished in a special shade of three-layer red with a red-over-black interior trimmed in fine leather and Alcantara.

VOLKSWAGEN PERFORMANCE INDIVIDUAL STYLE WITH NEW OETTINGER BODY KIT • OETTINGER UNVEILS BODY KITS FOR PERFORMANCE GOLF MODELS • INCLUDES EXHAUST AND MUFFLER FOR ENHANCED ENGINE NOISE he Volkswagen’s Performance Golf lineup includes the powerful GTD, the iconic GTI and the peerless R. This trio thrills and entertains drivers worldwide, and springs from Volkswagen’s engineering knowledge and driver-focused research and development.

The striking proportions of the Performance Golfs’ exterior design combines with the precision handling of the models to place this trio at the forefront of the Golf range. Now Oettinger is offering the option of adding individual style to the mix via a new body kit, which also comes with a revised silencer.

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The stainless steel exhaust system is a quad set-up, which means the GTD gains exhaust tailpipes on the right of the car, while the GTI increases its number of tailpipes from two to four. The R, meanwhile, receives honed quad tailpipes. For all models, the exhaust tailpipe is 84 mm in diameter. In addition, the Oettinger muffler alters the exhaust note to produce an even more sporty sound. The R goes a step further, with the addition of valve control.

Complementing the quad exhaust system is a purposeful rear diffuser. This offers enhanced aerodynamic ability, and the styling of the diffuser aligns perfectly with the look of Oettinger’s side skirts.

Above the diffuser is a new rear roof spoiler which incorporates open flaps and, thus, underlines the powerful appearance that the Oettinger body kit brings to the trio of potent Golfs.

At the front, the Oettinger kit adds a new spoiler and bespoke splitter. These elements guide air under the car effectively, and align perfectly with the carefully tuned aerodynamics of the Performance Golfs. The Oettinger body kit has been perfected in wind tunnels to make sure it reaches the highest quality levels demanded by Volkswagen.

Oettinger’s experience in working with Volkswagen stretches back more than 70 years, when Gerhard Oettinger took a Beetle

into the world of rallying. Later, he upped the power of his Golf Mk I from 70 PS to 75 PS. When the Golf GTI Mk I was unveiled in 1976 Oettinger got to work again, this time with a focus on engine tuning. He continued to develop Volkswagen cars until his death in 1997. From its base in Friedrichsdorf, near Frankfurt, the

Oettinger company continues with the same passion and dedication that its founder imparted into his projects.

The Oettinger body kit is available now at Volkswagen Retailers throughout the UK and for the GTD and GTI versions, and for the Golf R. een Apple Awards.

BEST IN CLASS CARS OF 2016 IN 2016, EURO NCAP TESTED 18 NEW PASSENGER CARS AND FOUR HEAVY QUADRICYCLES AND ANNOUNCED SOME OF THE YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS. THREE CARS ARE AWARDED ‘BEST IN CLASS’: THE TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE ‘LARGE FAMILY CAR’ CATEGORY; THE HYUNDAI IONIQ IN THE ‘SMALL FAMILY CAR’ CATEGORY; AND THE VW TIGUAN IS THE BEST ‘SMALL OFF-ROADER’ OF 2016*.

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016 saw the introduction of some significant changes to Euro NCAP’s ratings scheme.The inclusion of tests for pedestrian-detecting autobrake systems drove a huge increase in fitment of this life-saving technology, mostly as standard equipment but also as an option.

The Toyota Prius, winner in the Large Family Car category, was the first car to undergo tests of its AEB Pedestrian technology. Its standard-fitted safety pack, ‘Toyota Safety Sense’, performed well and managed to recognise and avoid or mitigate potential crashes with pedestrians.

The excellent performance of the SEAT Ateca in these tests was also noted.

While ‘Best in Class’ is based only on cars with standard safety equipment, several car manufacturers took advantage of Euro NCAP’s new ‘dual rating’ system in 2016. In addition to a star rating indicating the safety of a car with only standard safety equipment, a second rating demonstrates the benefits of optional safety equipment.

In general, the optional ‘safety pack’ includes AEB, including pedestrian-detecting autobrake systems, and the scheme was used for Superminis, Small Family Cars and one Pickup – competitive segments that might well otherwise have missed out on advanced driver assistance technologies.

Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen said, “Some technologies are

expensive and we recognised that it may not be possible for manufacturers to include them as standard equipment across the range and, at the same time, keep basic variants affordable for the target market.

The dual rating scheme lets them phase in sales more gradually, keeping cars affordable but, at the same time, giving consumers the chance to take advantage of these important safety technologies.

We’re pleased to see such a broad uptake of pedestrian-detecting AEB systems in 2016, as standard or as an option."

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class performed well but was the only car tested in the ‘Executive Car’ category so cannot be awarded ‘Best in Class’. In a year that underlined Euro NCAP’s influence, the EClass was also noted for its exceptional performance in child occupant protection.

With an automatic passenger airbag disabling system and excellent dynamic test results, it is clear that Daimler has invested greatly in an area of assessment recently made more demanding by Euro NCAP. A video compiling images of all 2016 Best in Class cars is available on our YouTube channel and Newsroom for journalists.

Detailed results and crash test pictures of all rewarded cars are published on our website. For media requests, please contact Marie Brasseur, Communications Manager, at marie_brasseur@euroncap.com. *Euro NCAP follows vehicle manufacturers’ recommendations regarding vehicle classification, based on mass, dimensions and body style. There may be an overlap between vehicle categories.

VW Tiguan

Toyota Prius

Hyundai Ioniq

Small Off-Road

Large Family Car

Small Family Car

2016

2016

2016

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Sailing and yachting special

START YOUR SEASON WITH THE LONDON BOAT SHOW Next month will once again host the Capital city’s iconic London Boat Show offering boating enthusiasts a chance to discover and explore some of the most sought after products and upcoming trends for the year ahead. With over 300 exhibitors showcasing the best the marine world has to offer, anticipated debuts to the World and European stage, as well as exciting new attractions, the event is one not to be missed.Seven World launches have already been confirmed from the likes of Princess Yachts, Sunseeker International, Cobra Ribs and Nautilus Yachting with a further four UK and seven Show launches planned.

Returning to the Show is The London Stage. As the place to enjoy live entertainment with exclusive performances throughout the 10-days, The Stage will also play host to high-octane fashion events, showcasing the latest in boating trends. Visitors can also expect to see Sky Sports Presenter, Alec Wilkinson, hosting regular features from sailing greats including Dee Caffari MBE and Saskia Clarke to boating favourites Zeb Soanes and Alex Alley. They will be sharing their inspiring stories and expert knowledge through interactive talks and panel shows, including: 8 motoring | December 2016

A Question of Sailing Based on the classic TV programme, this popular quiz show will be full of facts, fun and celebrities going head to head.

Sailing Uncovered With appearances from well-known pioneers, innovators and adventurers, this interactive show will offer visitors the chance to put their questions to the

experts and pick up some top tips.

The Daily Brunch Show The Daily Brunch Show will welcome in each day of the Show at a leisurely pace.

Alec Wilkinson will be accompanied by special guests to take visitors through the breaking headlines from the morning papers as well as updates from the Show floor.

In addition, the new Dream Lodge Marina & Boating Lake is one of the stunning new feature attractions at this year’s Show. The idyllic setting sees beautiful yachts moored in the marina as well as offering fantastic places to eat and drink - all with a breathtaking backdrop. The Marina will also play host to fantastic on the water activities including the ‘blind-boating challenge’ and seabob demonstrations.

Positioned adjacent to the Dream Lodge Marina, is the Watersports Park powered

by Rockley. Providing activity both on the water and land, this interactive area offers visitors the chance to try out some of the latest watersports trends including Stand Up Paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and water zorbing. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy demonstrations of innovative new equipment and cooking events.

Murray Ellis, Chief Officer of Boat Shows at British Marine Boat Shows, comments, “As the first Boat Show of the European and World calendar, the 63rd London Boat Show will offer an impressive display of products and services to help visitors start the new season. We have an exciting array of interactive attractions at this year’s Show offering visitors the chance to have fun whilst also learning something new about the world of boating.

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Mapfre Middlesea Euromed Regatta 2016 THE SEVENTEENTH EDITION OF THE MAPFRE MIDDLESEA EUROMED REGATTA WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN THIS SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER AT MELLIEHA BAY. The Mapfre Middle Sea Euromed Regatta hosted by Malta Young Sailors Club is an international sailing event for Optimist and Laser sailors from the age of 8. The event will be taking place in Mellieha Bay, located at Maxima’s and Seabank Hotel from today until this Wednesday 21st December 2016.

3 races will be held daily. Apart from the Optimists laser sailors are also taking part so there are 2 race courses.

The first edition in 1999 started off with 60 Optimists. The Optimist is the largest dinghy fleet worldwide. This event is organsied by the Malta Young Sailors Club which is based in St. Pauls Bay. Over the years participation grew and this year's race is a record with 245 sailors taking part from 20 different countries representing over 50 different sailing clubs making this the biggest

international dinghy event since its inception.

The countries taking part include Great Britain, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Slovania and Austria.

About the Optimist (dinghy) The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fibreglass, although wooden boats are still built. It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 boats officially registered with the class and many more built but never registered. The Optimist is recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation.

The Optimist was designed in 1947 by

American Clark Mills at the request of the Clearwater Florida Optimist service club following a proposal by Major Clifford McKay to offer low-cost sailing for young people. He designed a simple pram that could be built from three sheets of plywood, and donated the plan to the Optimists. The design was slightly modified and introduced to Europe by the Dane, Axel Damgaard, and spread outwards across Europe from Scandinavia.

The design was standardized in 1960 and became a strict One-Design in 1995.

The Optimist is sailed in over 120 countries and it is one of only two yachts approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 16.

More about the Laser (dinghy) The International Laser Class sailboat, also

called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According to the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes simplicity and performance.

The Laser is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world. As of 2012, there were more than 200,000 boats worldwide. A commonly cited reason for its popularity is that it is robust and simple to rig and sail in addition to its durability. The Laser also provides very competitive racing due to the very tight class association controls which eliminate differences in hull, sails and equipment.

For more information on this year’s event visit: euromed.maltayoungsailors.com

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EXHILARATING VIBE AT THE MEDCOMMS ROUND MALTA RACE

2016 ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB’S CALENDAR COMES TO A CLOSE. eventeen, fully crewed yachts took part in the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s final race of the year, an annual appointment that is kept by many returning crews for the Medcomms Round Malta Race.

The course chosen was to take the yachts on a southerly route leaving the Munxar Cardinal buoy to starboard then on around Malta via the South Comino channel to finish at Marsamxett.

Yachts started in two groups into a moderate East South Easterly breeze with grey clouds looming.

Four yachts started at 08:31 in the cruiser class, with Inspiration getting their timing quite right and being first off the line.

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However the much larger, and newest addition to the fold, Miame Too soon overtook to windward and led the fleet out to the first mark.

The twelve IRC Class 1 & 2 yachts started about nine minutes later with a couple of very close calls while tacking out of Marsamxett. The fleet soon spread out and by Munxar it was Xpedite, Elusive II, Unica and Xpresso that dominated the order. The pace was above average with the wind keeping the yachts very much a straight course close to the rhumb line.

The first IRC Class 1 yacht to cross the finish line was Xpedite at 13:59 followed by Elusive II at 14:00 with Xpresso close behind

at 14:01. Ratings came into play at the eventual order after time corrections it was Elusive II to clinch first place, followed by Unica and Xpresso in second and third place respectively with just nine minutes separating the first and third.

The first IRC Class 2 yacht over the line was Seawolf of Southampton at 14:43 followed

by Puddleduck at 14:50. Sailaway crossed at 15:00. There was no change to this order even after time corrections were calculated.

The IRC Class 4 had three boats competing with final placing going to Manana then Inspiration and Janissah. The new Miame Too was in a class

of its own in the RMYC Cruiser.

“The Medcomms Round Malta Race closes off a hectic racing calendar and we are pleased to see that racers had a great time on the water – we take this opportunity to thank Medcomms for their ongoing support as well as the volunteers who assisted in race management” remarked Godwin Zammit, Commodore, and Royal Malta Yacht Club. “We now look forward to a short break from racing, however we do look forward to the annual Boxing Day Fun Race that will be held in aid of L-Istrina, and hope that as is the norm quite a good amount of our members will turn up on the day to support this charitable cause”.

RESULTS IRC Class 1 1st Place – Elusive II (Aaron, Christoph & Maya Podesta) 2nd Place – Unica (Jamie Sammut) 3rd Place – Xpresso (Sean Borg) IRC Class 2 1st Place - Seawolf (David Latham) 2nd Place – Puddleduck (Chris Selvagi) 3rd Place – Sailaway (Ray Schembri) IRC Class 4 1st Place – Manana (Peter Ellul Vincenti) 2nd Place – Inspiration (Godwin Zammit)

The Royal Malta Yacht Club’s 2017 Racing Calendar will kick off on the 21 January with the start of the Malta Sailing League.

More information can be found on www.rmyc.org.