Sports
Nicki Borg Costanzi kayaks from Malta to Sicily
By MM Sports
Jun 24, 2008 - 7:31:39 PM

22 year old Nicki Borg Costanzi made kayaking history last Saturday by paddling from Malta to Sicily in a solo kayak – a first for a Maltese – in a time of 15 hours and 57 minutes.

She took off at 3:30CET from St George’s Beach along with her father Peter who was also attempting this trip (a surprising sight for Paceville revellers who were still frolicking the night away whilst the duo was making the last minute preparations on their boats!)

On leaving the bay Nicki and Peter were met by their support boat, MY Meteor captained by David Mifsud and they soon encountered heavy swells from different directions. These swells have a disastrous effect on Peter who got seasick and had to abort after 23km leaving Nicki to face the rest of the journey on her own.

Keeping a steady 7.5Km pace with breaks every 15km to 20km, Nicki was making good time but she did not programme for the effect the currents and would have.  These dragged her easterly thus lengthening the journey by an extra 10km, bringing the total actual distance covered to 102km.

Amazingly observed by the crew, she made it look so easy with her consistent stroke and pace.  The paddling technique flourished throughout the journey.

Her handheld Garmin GPS was set for 95KM and when, at the 92KM mark – with land in sight, she was told she had 12KM and not 2KM to go – she felt shattered and this is where her mental preparation kicked in. With  tears of tiredness and frustration streaming down her face she stuck in and paddled and paddled and paddled – with no respite – angrily shutting us up even when trying to encourage her – focused on one purpose and one purpose alone - the nearest point to land on. By this time Peter had more of less recovered and joined up with Nicki for the last 5KM.

The landing point was the tip of Pozzallo breakwater with Nicki standing on the rocks below a welcoming statue of Our Lady – a fitting welcome from the Star of the Sea – to her relief and satisfaction. The tiredness and exhaustion then hit home and she barely had the strength to get back to her kayak and paddle a mere 10 meters to the support boat and hugs of her boyfriend/coach Chris Camilleri and the rest of the crew on board.

Nicki’s achievement is historic not only because she was the first Maltese to do such an event, and a woman at that, or because it is the longest distance ever travelled by a Maltese Kayaker but also because in so doing she charted unknown territory in Malta’s kayaking sporting history doing so successfully in her unique unassuming manner.