Regatta Malta

Regatta Malta – The National Sports Association for Traditional Rowing [MT¹]

Malta Rowing Federation recognises Regatta Malta as the Maltese national association for the sport of traditional rowing (“regatta”). Regatta Malta is a distinct entity from the Malta Rowing Federation and is formed by the Maltese Clubs that practice the sport of traditional rowing (“regatta”) and participate in the Maltese National Traditional Regatta. These are:

Birzebbuga Regatta Club
Bormla Regatta Club
Birgu Regatta Club
Kalkara Regatta Club
Marsa Regatta Club
Marsamxett Regatta Club
Senglea Regatta Club
Siġġiewi Rowing Club

The sport of traditional rowing has a long history in Malta, dating back hundreds of years and still enjoys great popularity. Regatta Malta (and not the Malta Rowing Federation) has the technical responsibility for the Maltese Traditional National Regattas and also organises a set of traditional rowing races for young rowers under its own rules. For further details please visit http://www.regatta.mt.

The traditional “National Regatta”

Malta’s traditional National Regattas are held on September 8th and the 31st March in Malta’s Grand Harbour. In these historical regattas, rowers compete using traditional fixed-seat boats over a c. 1000m distance to win a Palju. The magnificent Fort St Angelo provides an imposing backdrop to the sleek and colourful Maltese boats. Rowing teams from the eight full member Clubs, Birgu (Vittoriosa), Birzebbuga, Bormla (Cospicua), Isla (Senglea), Kalkara, Marsa, Marsamxett (Valletta) and Siggiewi, participate in a number of very exciting races. In most boats, there is a equal mix of seated and standing rower where the standing rowers row in the Venetian style.

The Regatta is sanctioned by Regatta Malta, the Maltese Traditional Rowing Association (a distinct entity from Malta Rowing Federation) with the support of SportMalta who also finance the prizes.

Boats used in the Traditional Maltese National Regatta

Four typed of boats are used in these regattas, namely the Dghajsa Tal-Pass which is rowed by two rowers (Races 1 and 6) or four rowers (Races 9 and 10), the Dghajsa Tal-Medalji, a lighter and faster version which is rowed by four rowers (Races 2 and 5), the Kajjik a small boat which is rowed by two rowers (Races 3 and 8) and the Frejgatina, another small boat which is the only boat rowed by two seated rowers and coxswain.

*Dgħasa tal-Medalji, rowed by four rowers*

*Frejgatina, rowed by two rowers and a coxswain*

Academic Studied on Traditional Maltese Rowing

The traditional Maltese rowing style and form has been the subject of a study by the University of Malta through a project running under the auspices of the Faculty of Heath Sciences. A number of scientific publications have arisen from this project, inlcuding:

On the Kinematics of the Forward-Facing Venetian-Style Rowing Technique, by JN Grima, TP Agius et al., Bioengineering (2023)
The kinematics of fixed-seat rowing: A structured synthesis, by TP Agius, JN Grima et al., Bioengineering (2023)
Musculoskeletal injuries in fixed-seat rowing, by JN Grima, TP Agius et al., Science & Sports (2023)

For further information about this project one may contact Dr Tonio P. Agius or Professor Joseph N Grima.

^{Maltese Version (Abridged): Malta Rowing Federation tirrokonoxxi lil Regatta Malta bħala l-assoċjazzjoni nazzjonali Maltija ta’ l-isport tal-qdif tradizzjonali (“regatta”). L-entita` Regatta Malta hija entita` distinta min Malta Rowing Federation u hija ffurmata mill-Clubs Maltin li jipprattikaw l-isport tal-qdif tradizzjonali (“regatta”) u jieħdu sehem fir-Regatta Nazzjonali tradizzjonali Maltija. Dawn huma Birzebbuga Regatta Club, Bormla Regatta Club, Birgu Regatta Club, Kalkara Regatta Club, Marsa Regatta Club, Marsamxett Valletta Regatta Club, Senglea Regatta Club u Siġġiewi Rowing Club.
L-isport tal-qdif tradizzjoanli għandu storja twila f’Malta u jmur lura mijjiet ta’ snin u għadu jgawdi popolarita’ kbira. Regatta Malta (u mhux Malta Rowing Federation) għanda ir-responsabilta’ teknika tar-Regatti Nazzjonali Tradizzjonali u torganiżża wkoll sett ta’ tigrijiet għall-qaddiefa żgħażagħ.} ↩︎