The J70 World Championships, held recently in La Rochelle, France, was a heavily-competed regatta with 78 teams on the start line.

There was no lack of experienced and professional sailors, making it a championship title that a lot of the world’s best sailors were vying for. Among those taking part was J-80 world champion and Olympic medallist Hugo Rocha, of Spain.

Flying the Maltese flag high and proud was Team Bet Safe whose crew, composed of Sebastian Ripard, Benji Borg, Matthew Scicluna and Gordon Bugeja, finished the regatta in 21st place overall and fifth in the Corinthian (non-professionals) category.

“We are happy with the result, the racing was fierce but it was also our first international regatta on the J70, so we had a lot to learn in a short period of time,” tactician Borg said.

The team is already looking ahead and aiming to contest the 2016 Europeans in Kiel, Germany.

“We managed to achieve our goals for 2015, our next target is to achieve a top 10 placing at the European Championships next year,” driver Ripard said.

“We are grateful for the support that Bet Safe and Mapfre Middlesea have shown us so far and hopefully we will continue to retain this support so that we can continue to keep competing at this level.”

The J70 is the fastest growing, one design, sports boat ever, receiving a lot of international recognition.

“This is a big class within the sailing world, a great class for Malta to be represented in,” Ripard added.

“Hopefully, we might be able to attract some international sailing events of this calibre to our shores in future.

“Until that day, it is great to say that our sailors are flying the Maltese flag on international waters.”