Kajjik
Thekajjikorkajjikkis atraditional fishing boatfromMalta.It developed in the 17th century fromcaïqueswhich were used elsewhere in the Mediterranean. In the past,kajjikkiwere equipped with sails and oars, but today the fishing boats are powered by inboard motors. Variants of the boat participate in therowing regattasheld twice every year.
History[edit]
Thekajjikdeveloped in the 17th century from thecaïqueswhich accompaniedgalleysof thenavy of the Order of Saint John.The boats were usually used as fishing boats, but some were also used to carry passengers.[1]
Variants of thekajjikincluded thekajjik tal-koppand thekajjik tal-lampara.The latter had a light source attached to the bow which allowed fishing at night.[2]Another variant was thekajjik tal-gangmu,which had a low bow and a short forestem originally intended for fishing for seashells.[1]This was also used to recover coal which had fallen to the seabed while being loaded onto ships in theGrand Harbour.[2]
From about 1920,inboard motorswere installed on somekajjikkiwhich were used for fishing. Today, the boats are no longer being built and they are on the decline. However, many examples still exist and remain in use as fishing boats, particularly atSt. Paul's BayandMarsaxlokk.[1]
Description[edit]
Thekajjikbears similarities to thedgħajsa tal-pass,but it is of stronger construction and it has a flatstern.The boats were originally equipped with both oars and sails. They would have a single mast rigged with aspritsail.Today they are propelled by engines.[1]
Regatta variants[edit]
Variants of thekajjikare commonly used in therowing regattasheld in the Grand Harbour on31 Marchand8 Septembereach year.[3]They have been participating in the September regatta since 1822. Initially,kajjikki tal-koppwere used in the races, but purpose-built versions of the boats were introduced later.[4]
Thekajjikused in the modern regatta has two oars, and it is manned by a crew of two, one standing and one seated.[3]It is 4.11 metres (13.5 ft) long, has a beam of 1.42 metres (4 ft 8 in) and a depth of 0.53 metres (1 ft 9 in).[4]
Variants of other traditional boats, thedgħajsaandfrejgatina,also compete in the regatta.[4][3]
References[edit]
- ^abcdMuscat, Joseph (2005)."Traditional Boats of Malta"(PDF).Malta Archaeological Review(6): 26–40. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 April 2020.
- ^abMuscat, Joseph (2012)."Id-dgħajjes tradizzjonali Maltin: it-tieni taqsima"(PDF).L-Imnara(in Maltese).10(1). Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor: 15–20. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 April 2020.
- ^abcCocks, Paul (23 August 2016)."Why don't the expert Maltese rowers compete in the Olympics?".Malta Today.Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2020.
- ^abcSerracino, Joseph (9 September 2010)."Boats used in Regatta".SportinMalta.Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2017.
