Surfski racers beat the weather

This set a tough stage for the racing pack to perform on. However, things got underway in due course with a running beach start. Chris Camilleri, Matthew Schembri and Simon Gauci battled for the lead early on.

Camilleri held the lead at the reef marker turning, and looked to make it a hat-trick of wins in the series. However, like the rest of the pack, he had to contend with some serious waves. The swell made it hard for the racers to keep visual contact on each other. There was a significant swing in recorded speed during the downwind part of the race, with recorded speed going from 11 kph to 18 kph.

However, despite the conditions, the race turned out to be a fast one. The boats were in their element, and the increased familiarity of the paddlers with tough conditions, also experienced in the second leg eventually started to tell. They managed to take advantage of the downwind runs to make serious progress, and gain whatever advantage they could from the weather.

Once again, Chris Camilleri clinched the leg, clocking a 23 minute performance. Matthew Schembri took second place with 26’30, and Simon Gauci clocked 29’00. In show of true sportsmanship, also seen in the tough second leg, a number of paddlers capsized during the race – and were assisted by other competitors who sacrificed some of their speed in the process. The series now moves to its fourth leg, with Chris Camilleri still in command of affairs and looking to keep up his perfect record.

Standings:

Chris Camilleri – 30

Michael Aquilina - 15

Matthew Schembri- 14