This project has been funded by the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).
The 6 ta` Dicembru “Tal-Pass” boat financed through this project on the day it was formally blessed, named and launched in the presence of the Hon. Minister Julia Farrugia and Mr Mauro Parascandalo CEO of MCVS, and, on the occasion of its first regatta competition (The 2026 Regatta ta’ Jum il-Helsien. Rowers: Roderick Briffa (Poppa), Nathan Grech (Parasija), Matthew Azzopardi (irmigg) and Kurt Farrugia (pruwa)).
Rowing Without Barriers
Our project SIS.A1.16.2024 successfully delivered Malta’s first purpose-built fully inclusive traditional Regatta boat. Based on the iconic Tal-Pass regatta boat, the largest and most stable boat used in the Maltese National Regatta, the project involved the construction and commissioning of a custom-built craft that complies with national regulations while incorporating adaptations that make it fully accessible to everyone.
This traditional Regatta boat was specifically designed to enable participation by athletes of all abilities, including wheelchair users, individuals with physical impairments, visually impaired athletes, older adults, and anyone who may find conventional access to rowing challenging.
Challenging Tradition, Expanding Opportunity
The Maltese National Regatta is one of the country’s most cherished sporting traditions. Yet participation has historically been dominated by able-bodied male athletes, typically between the ages of 18 and 40. This reality has unintentionally excluded many people from experiencing the physical, mental, and social benefits that rowing can provide.
Through Proġejet SIS.A1.16.2024, Siggiewi Rowing Club took a significant step towards changing this perception by demonstrating that traditional rowing can be accessible, welcoming, and rewarding for everyone.
The project was founded on the belief that sport and tradition belong to all members of society. Regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, educational background, sexual orientation, or physical ability, every individual deserves the opportunity to participate, contribute, and excel when provided with the right support and environment.
Why Rowing?
On-water rowing is widely recognised as an excellent form of physical exercise that promotes cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination, mental wellbeing, and social engagement.
Research undertaken by Club members highlighted that the fixed-seat rowing technique traditionally used in Maltese Regatta boats closely resembles techniques used internationally in para-rowing disciplines for athletes with limited or no leg function. This provided a unique opportunity to adapt traditional Maltese rowing for inclusive participation while preserving the authenticity and heritage of the sport.
A Vision Born from Experience
The project built upon a groundbreaking achievement by Siggiewi Rowing Club, Malta’s newest and smallest Regatta club.
In 2023, the club became the first in Malta to train and include a formally classified PR2 para-rower within a National Regatta crew. Following extensive research, the Tal-Pass boat was identified as the most suitable vessel for inclusive participation.
Although the athlete successfully demonstrated that a physically disabled individual could compete in the National Regatta, practical limitations and the absence of a dedicated adaptive boat highlighted the need for a vessel specifically designed and permanently configured for inclusive rowing.
This experience became the catalyst for Proġejet SIS.A1.16.2024 and inspired the creation of a lasting solution that would benefit current and future generations of athletes.
Creating Meaningful Inclusion
Through the project, Siggiewi Rowing Club constructed and equipped a dedicated inclusive Tal-Pass boat designed to meet the needs of diverse athletes. The completed vessel provides a safe, accessible, and empowering environment where participants can train, row, and experience traditional Maltese rowing with dignity and confidence.
The project has contributed to:
- Increased access to traditional sports for underrepresented groups.
- Greater awareness of inclusive opportunities within Maltese rowing.
- Enhanced physical and mental wellbeing through participation in sport.
- Stronger intergenerational engagement and community interaction.
- The challenging of stereotypes surrounding disability and athletic performance.
- The promotion of respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity within sporting environments.
More Than a Boat
Project SIS.A1.16.2024 was about much more than constructing a rowing boat: It was about creating opportunities, removing barriers, and demonstrating that tradition can evolve while remaining true to its roots. The project showed that inclusive sport enriches communities and that participation in Malta’s sporting heritage should not be limited by age, ability, or circumstance.
The completed boat now stands as a tangible legacy of the project and as a symbol of Siggiewi Rowing Club’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and innovation within traditional Maltese sport.
Through Proġejet SIS.A1.16.2024, Malta’s National Regatta became more accessible than ever before, helping to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the pride, camaraderie, and joy of rowing.
This project/publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS cannot
be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information
contained therein.
Siggiewi Rowing Club 