The first regatta of the 2026 EurILCA Masters Series was hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and once again attracted a strong and diverse international fleet, combining returning competitors with first-time entrants and a high level of experience, including recently elected ILCA President Mark Lyttle. This blend of elite sailors and committed amateurs remains a defining feature of the series, enhancing both the quality of racing and the strong sense of community that surrounds it.
Racing got underway on Friday off Dragonara Point in St. Julian’s, where competitors were immediately tested by demanding offshore conditions. A strong and unstable westerly wind, gusting between 18 and 25 knots, combined with swells of up to two metres, delivered a physically and tactically challenging opening day. Despite several retirements across the fleets, the Royal Malta Yacht Club Race Committee, under the direction of Martin Azzopardi, successfully completed two races to open the championship.
With the exposed sea state remaining unsettled on Saturday, the Race Committee made the call to bring the fleet inside Marsamxett Harbour. While more sheltered, the harbour course still provided a stern test, with breezes ranging from 15 to 25 knots and constant shifts placing a premium on boat handling, balance and tactical discipline. Two further races were completed, keeping the series on schedule and ensuring fair and competitive racing for the entire fleet.
The demanding conditions added an extra layer of intrigue to the championship, with consistency proving just as important as outright speed. In the highly competitive ILCA 6 Class, Niall Peelo GBR led after Friday’s opening races but slipped to third overall by Saturday afternoon, allowing Conor Barry IRL and Roel Ballieux NED to move into first and second place respectively.
The ILCA 7 fleet also saw significant movement. Friday’s leaderboard was dominated by British sailors, with Mark Lyttle GBR, Alan Davis GBR and Tim Law GBR occupying the top three positions. However, Saturday’s racing reshuffled the order, with David Surkhov UKR and Tim Law GBR exchanging places, Surkhov ultimately securing third overall.
While the fleet was hoping for further racing — and the possibility of changes on the podium — Sunday’s deteriorating weather, with strong winds and unstable conditions, meant that no additional races could be safely held. As a result, the championship was decided on the basis of the four races already completed.
“With another successful edition now complete, the EurILCA Masters once again demonstrated why Malta continues to be a preferred stop on the international Masters sailing calendar — combining competitive racing, professional race management and warm Mediterranean hospitality”, remarked Adrian Gauci Borda, the Club’s Rear Commodore (Sailing).
This year marked the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s fifth time hosting the EurILCA Masters, a milestone made possible through the combined efforts of the Club and SailCoach’s Trevor Millar and Alex Denisiuc, whose continued support has been instrumental in building Malta’s standing within the international ILCA Masters circuit. Once again, the event attracted a strong mix of returning competitors and first-time visitors, reaffirming the regatta’s popularity and Malta’s reputation as an attractive winter training and racing base, even when challenging weather adds to the test on the water.
Speaking during the Prize Giving ceremony, Club Commodore Mark Napier paid tribute to the efforts behind the event: “I would like to sincerely thank our Race Committee, volunteers and safety teams who worked tirelessly throughout a very demanding weekend to ensure that racing could be delivered safely and fairly, despite the severe weather that affected Malta, as it did much of Europe. Their commitment is what makes events of this level possible, and we are also grateful to Yachting Malta for once again supporting the EurILCA Masters here in Malta.”
Yachting Malta Chairman, the Hon. Chris Agius, highlighted Malta’s position on the international sporting calendar: “Malta was the only location in Europe this weekend able to successfully deliver on-the-water competition, despite widespread adverse weather across the continent. We are proud to welcome international sailors to our shores and to provide them with high-quality racing and facilities. This is made possible through the outstanding efforts of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, together with the support of Yachting Malta, working in partnership to strengthen Malta’s profile as a leading hub for international sport and sailing.”
2026 EurILCA Master MLT Winners
ILCA 6 Apprentice Master
1st Place – Jonathan Cully IRL
ILCA 6 Master
1st Place – Conor Barry IRL
ILCA 6 Grand Master
1st Place – Freek de Miranda NED
ILCA 6 Great Grand Master
1st Place – Roel Ballieux NED
ILCA 6 Legend
1st Place – Theo van Hilten NED
ILCA 7 Apprentice Master
1st Place – Max Moldovan GER
ILCA 7 Master
1st Place – David Surkov UKR
ILCA 7 Grand Master
1st Place – Mark Lyttle GBR
ILCA 7 Great Grand Master
1st Place – Alan Davis GBR
About the EurILCA Master Series
The EurILCA Master Series is a collection of regattas held throughout the year at stunning venues across Europe. The competition is open to sailors who will have reached the age of 30 by the first race in 2026, across all rigs (ILCA 7, ILCA 6, and ILCA 4). Fierce competition on the water, paired with a vibrant après-sail social scene, makes the EurILCA Master Series regattas some of the most popular events on the European sailing calendar.
The 2026 EurILCA Master Series continues in April with the 2026 EurILCA Master ESP at Club Vela Calella in Spain. Check out all upcoming EurILCA Master Series events here: eurilca.org/eurilca-master-series-upcoming-events
Keep smiling, keep sailing!
The EurILCA Team
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA / Source: Maria Vella-Galea – RMYC | Photos by Sailing Lens.
