Maltese Team Betsafe to participate in the J70 World Championships

The J70 World Championships will be taking place in La Rochelle from the 8 to the 11 July.

Maltese Team Betsafe - Taking part in the J70 World Championships. (L) to (r) Benji Borg, Matthew Scicluna, Gordon Bugeja and Sebastian Ripard
Maltese Team Betsafe - Taking part in the J70 World Championships. (L) to (r) Benji Borg, Matthew Scicluna, Gordon Bugeja and Sebastian Ripard

Over 80 teams, from 16 countries will compete for the world title. Malta’s Team Betsafe will also be making the journey to La Rochelle to compete for a place on the podium.

Sebastian Ripard, Benji Borg, Gordon Bugeja and Matthew Scicluna, winners of the Mapfre Middlesea J70 Med Cup will be representing Malta in La Rochelle. Team Betsafe, as they are officially known, have been training hard over the winter and are now eager to find out where they stand against the world’s best. Veteran sailors, Ripard and Borg, having sailed together at many international regattas during their 49er Olympic campaign and both Bugeja and Scicluna have some impressive local results under their belt – including winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2014 with Artie. “We’ve spent a lot of time on the water training this winter”, commented Borg, “yet we are still anxious to tune up against the foreign teams, we have no idea where we stand against them!”

For Team Betsafe, this regatta started with a two thousand kilometre drive from Malta to La Rochelle, departing from Malta on Wednesday 1st July and making it to France on Saturday 4th July. “It’s a long drive, but a good time to collect our thoughts and to start getting into the zone,” so Sebastian says. “Thankfully we are fully insured with Mapfre Middlesea so I can sleep comfortably when Benji takes the wheel. Benji is pedal to the metal both on and off the water so insurance is key!” he cheekily added.

Team Betsafe’s adventure in La Rochelle can be followed on the J70 Malta Association Facebook Page or on their Blog www.j70malta.com