Sailing Marathon - What a Good Idea!
It exposes sailing to the wider community, especially kids, and it raises money for a good cause. Malta's Viking Sailing Club(VSC) is, for the eighth successive year running a 'Sailing Marathon'. 
'For a small donation to charity, a non-threatening introduction to sailing'
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For the uninitiated, this simply means the sailing boats of the club are being run non-stop by club members as vehicles to give anyone - who can pay a small donation to charity - a ride around the set course.
In Malta it is traditionally very successful, and many families last weekend broke away from their Saturday routine and capitalised on the fine weather to chip in to the charity sailing marathon, and experience a non-threatening introduction to sailing.
Once again the proceeds of the 32-hour marathon will go towards the Equal Partners Foundation.
The eighth marathon was inaugurated by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, and the boat-trips ended Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by a barbecue for the volunteers.
Sunday morning at Haywharf in Floriana, a number of families were patiently waiting for their turn to set off in the next available dinghy or sailing-boat.
The slight breeze and tranquillity, coupled with a background of upbeat tunes emerging from the VSC headquarters, provided the ideal atmosphere and setting for the marathon.
In all, five dinghies and five sailing boats were made available to the public. As many as eight people, sometimes pets included, all clad with fluorescent life-vests, could fit into the boats, which were being steered by young sailing enthusiasts.
The boat rides were also made available to disabled children, with assistance from the Equal Partners Foundation volunteers.
Last September, VSC raised ?1,542 for the foundation and in 2006 a total of ?3,960 was raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, during what was then a 50-hour marathon.
John Sammut, VSC treasurer and event coordinator, said the club hoped to raise enough money to match the same amount.
It's a formula many other clubs around the world could do well to emulate.
by Lisa Baldacchino,Times of Malta/Sail-World 
Karratha, WA
