The Jarhead crew competed against 198 other boats, making this year’s the largest fleet for the race since 2007. 

This was the first time the team competed together in an international event outside the Mediterranean, and were faced with cold UK waters as well as a new 36-foot J-109 racing boat, the JYS Jan.  Despite the unfamiliar conditions, the team rose to the challenge and emerged with an impressive result.

They finished at a respectable 19th out of 49 starters

The young crew was led by experienced sailor Nikki Henderson and consisted of Fabio Galea, Emilie Gregory, Greg Mifsud Orlando, Patrice Pace, Saul Vassallo, Francesca Zammit and Zachary Zammit.

“It was a pleasure to see how the team grew, improved and developed together – lifting one another up, and looking for each other as every individual member went through their own personal battles,” Nikki Henderson commented. “The outcome was a brilliant race.  We have definitely laid our mark in the fleet and people are watching us.”

The Jarhead crew is now preparing for the famed Rolex Fastnet Race, a 606 nautical mile offshore yacht race, which will start on Saturday 3rd August. 

“We are pretty excited about the way things have evolved within the Foundation,” said Wilfrid Buttigieg, the Foundation’s Administrator. “In such a short time, we have formed a team that will represent Malta in the prestigious and sought after Rolex Fastnet and after that there are plans for the Foundations two J-109’s to be represented in another 606 nautical mile course – the iconic Rolex Middle Sea Race.” 

The Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation is a non-profit voluntary organisation with the principal purpose of educating children, youths and young adults in the sport of sailing. You can find more about the foundation by checking out their website here.

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