Yacht club presses to host 2005 Admiral's Cup

The Royal Malta Yacht Club - busy seeking prestigious, international sailing events to consolidate Malta's position on the world's yachting map - is pushing ahead to host the Admiral's Cup in 2005.

RMYC commodore Georges Bonello DuPuis said Malta had a good chance of hosting the event.

He said the Royal Ocean Racing Club was waiting for 2003's Admiral's Cup to be over in July, after which its committee would decide whether to hold the event in Cowes, UK, or in another country.

The RMYC was working hard, even through diplomatic channels, to bring the event to Malta. If their efforts materialised, it would be the first time that the Admiral's Cup would be held outside the UK, Mr Bonello DuPuis said.

He said a change in tourism minister could bring fresh ideas on how to deal with the issue, while the setting up of a ministry for youth and the arts, which was also responsible for sports, was also positive.

As regards the prestigious America's Cup, Mr Bonello DuPuis was "bitterly disappointed" when he learnt that Malta was not one of the eight shortlisted countries to host the event.

Malta had got excited about the possibility of hosting the 2007 America's Cup when it was learnt that it would be returning to Europe after 152 years, following the victory of the Swiss Alinghi team in New Zealand earlier on in the year. Switzerland's landlocked status requires the need for a partner city, region, or country to host the event.

A steering committee had been set up by former Tourism Minister Michael Refalo, headed by John Ripard and including architect Ray Demicoli and Mr Bonello DuPuis.

The committee had been confident about Malta's bid and had presented a detailed report before the March deadline to express its interest in hosting the event.

Mr Bonello DuPuis felt that the inclusion of Elba on the list of eight candidates was "ridiculous", particularly as it did not even have an airport.

Nevertheless, he said, a possible change in the "layout" of the event to include a circuit of races around Europe, prior to the America's Cup, meant that Malta could be a likely candidate.

Looking on the bright side, he said the work that had been done on the report could be used to help Malta host the Admiral's Cup and other international yachting events.

In the meantime, the relocation of the Royal Malta Yacht Club on Manoel Island, necessitated by the projected development on the island, had not yet been concluded and talks had stopped due to the election, Mr Bonello DuPuis said.

Francis Zammit Dimech, now tourism minister, had been "very helpful" in his previous post as Resources and Infrastructure Minister and had been involved in the talks between the developers, Midi Consortium, and the yacht club.

Mr Bonello DuPuis expressed satisfaction at Dr Zammit Dimech's renewed involvement, which would mean continuity.

A site has been earmarked by the government, the Midi Consortium and the yacht club on Manoel Island, and it was now a matter of waiting for the contract to be signed and for Midi to apply for planning permission.

Mr Bonello DuPuis mentioned the need for more marinas and said the club was applying to have its own pontoon at Marsamxett Harbour for members and visiting guests.