Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club regretfully would like to announce that this year’s Festina BSJ (Malta)-Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competitions have been cancelled. This following two days of monitoring the sea conditions both by the Club and Transport Malta. The following statement has been issued conjunctly by the Club and Transport Malta.
In terms of Article 17(G-M) and Article 16 (M-G-M) of the events’ regulations, Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club and Transport Malta, following an on-site inspection, have decided that due to the prevailing and forecasted sea conditions, the Gozo-Malta and the Malta-Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competitions should be cancelled. Both entities have prioritised the safety of both swimmers and vessels engaged in these events.
Further details related to the mentioned regulations, namely refunds, returning of boat numbers and returning of timing transponders, will be issued by the Club in due course.
Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club would like to thank all those who have assisted them in their preparations for this event, namely, Transport Malta, The Armed Forces of Malta, the Civil Protection Department, the Administrative Law Enforcement of the Malta Police Force, all the events’ sponsors particularly Festina Watches as the main sponsors, the Ramla Bay Resort, the Club’s agent in Gozo who coordinates the escort boats, the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, and the Club’s Events Assistants Team.
To the swimmers who have prepared long and hard for this event, the Club understands and shares your disappointment at this decision, and commits itself to continue developing the now popular sport of open water swimming in Malta.