For the first summer in 30 years, the boats of the Vikings Sailing Club lie idly in storage, deteriorating as the government’s promise of alternative, usable premises remains unfulfilled.
The popular sport, which has attracted children from all over the island, especially during the summer, can no longer be offered because the club was served with an eviction notice to vacate the premises by last October due to an EU-funded project undertaken by the armed forces.
The club, which has been operating since 1984, took over the building in Haywharf 11 years ago after a resolution authorising the move was unanimously approved by Parliament. After the eviction, the government offered the club use of old garages situated behind the former clubhouse in Marsamxett Harbour. However, these are in a dilapidated state and unsafe to use, vice commodore Michael Fenech said.
About €120,000 is needed to refurbish the garages, funds which the non-profit organisation does not have. Meanwhile, it is paying €512 every six months in rent for the garages, which the club deems completely unusable given the state they are in, though the surface area they cover is considered to be adequate.
“The government keeps saying it will find a way to obtain the funds [to repair the garages] but so far we’ve just not gotten anywhere. It’s very frustrating because we keep on hearing the same thing over and over again. We feel as if we’re being led on,” Mr Fenech said.
We keep on hearing the same thing over and over again. We feel as if we’re being led on
“The KMS [Malta Sports Council] has been asking us when we’ll be operating again but we have nowhere from where to work, nowhere to store our boats close to the sea, nowhere to use as classrooms. I can’t risk bringing in the children to this place,” Mr Fenech said.
The club has had to reject requests by parents wanting to enrol their children, and the annual 50-hour marathon will not be held.
With over 200 member families, the Vikings Sailing Club has served as a meeting point for hundreds of Maltese who came together for an array of events that used to be organised on a regular basis throughout the year.
Its sailing and rescue boats and other equipment lie unused at the Ospizio in Floriana, exposed to the elements and gathering dust. These include eight new sailing boats that the club purchased two years ago for €20,000.
Sailing was a dedicated sport and instilled in children a sense of discipline and teamwork, Mr Fenech said. Many of its young members went on to work in the yachting industry and even participated in the Middle Sea Race.
Earlier this year, the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Yachting Malta Ltd partnered up with the government with the aim of enhancing the yachting industry.
“That was a good initiative but you can’t ignore the grassroots. This is where the children who will feed the industry are coming from,” Mr Fenech pointed out.