A group of sailors from the Malta Young Sailors Club earlier this month participated with success in the Volvo Musto British and Open Optimist Championships in Pwllheli, Wales.

Led by Jean-Paul Fleri Soler, National Optimist Sailing Coach, the eleven sailors battled it out in windy conditions ranging from 10 to 25knots and competed against 450 participants in the Senior and Junior categories.

Competition was tough, with top sailors from all over Britain, the USA, Dubai, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong; the event was a testing ground for national teams from these countries to pit their skills in rough seas, rain and very windy conditions.

Thomas Zammit Tabona, Ella Fleri Soler, Ryan Cauchi, Abigail Fenech, and newcomer Thomas Sammut Alessi competed in the Senior Fleet (ages 13 to 15). Edward Fleri Soler, Karl Miggiani, Matthew Westwood, Ryan Abela and Alex Esposito competed in the Junior Fleet (ages 8 to 12). Sean Borg participated in the Laser National Championships in Abersoch. Twelve races were held over five days, from the 8th to the 15th August.

This was the first international experience for Sammut Alessi, Westwood, Abela and Esposito and their performance was commendable considering they tackled races in fleets of 150 sailors.

Thanks to the commitment of Malta Young Sailors Club, our sailors are gaining from international exposure and are keeping the Malta flag flying with honours – 14-year-old Thomas Zammit Tabona came fourth overall and first overseas sailor, 15-year-old Ella Fleri Soler [Silver Medallist GSSE 2007] ranked 23rd overall and fourth girl, while twelve-year-old Edward Fleri Soler achieved sixth overall placing in the Junior category. Sean Borg (Gold Medallist GSSE 2007) ranked sixth in the Laser 4.7 Class.

The Malta Young Sailors Team was accompanied by national Optimist Sailing coach Jean-Paul Fleri Soler and Malta Sailing Federation president Anna Rossi. This was the first in a series of international events the team will be participating in as preparation for the GSSE to be held in Cyprus in 2009.