Mascalzone Latino sign up Maltese sailor Dougall

Christopher Dougall, one of Malta's few professional sailors who has raced on a good number of the world's largest and fastest racing yachts, has been signed up by Vincenzo Onorato's America's Cup Challenge Team - Mascalzone Latino Capitalia.

Dougall, 33 from Sliema but now residing in St Paul's Bay, is currently in Valencia. After undergoing trials with the team for the past few days, Dougall has now been picked to sail with the Latin Devils.

Earlier on this year, Dougall took part in many regattas with divers racing teams.

Anton Valentino, president of the Malta Sailing Federation (MSF) hailed Dougall's selection by the Mascalzone Latino team as a breakthrough for Maltese sailing.

"This is a truly great day for the Maltese sailing community as well as for all the Maltese citizens," Valentino commented.

"Having a Maltese sailor competing in the America's Cup is definitely the best advertisement we can get. Hopefully, in a few years time, other Maltese sailors will join in and continue to fly Malta's flag at such prestigious events."

Eleven teams are currently vying for the world's premier sailing event, the America's Cup. With sailors from all over the world, Malta, despite its limited resources, will be represented for the first time out on the race course as Dougall will battle it out with the best and highest-paid sailors.

It must also be said that in many previous editions of the America's Cup, John Ripard Snr, a seasoned international juror, figured prominently on the jury panel.

With many offshore race wins, including the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2001 on board Strait Dealer, under his belt, Dougall sailed most of 2004 on board Neville Crichton's world famous maxi yacht Shockwave Team Alfa Romeo.

Dougall has now raised his own reputation by his selection to race in the America's Cup challengers.

"I want to thank all those who gave me the courage to keep striving for it," Dougall told Malta Sailing Federation officials.

This exciting development in Dougall's career represents the fulfilment of a great personal achievement for him, having set this goal a long time ago.