Yes, they are coming from Bermuda, India, Latvia, Russia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, the USA and more, 20 countries in all for what has become a yearly internationally acknowledged Regatta, for Optimist and Laser dinghies - The Mapfre Middlesea EUROMED Regatta, this year being held between the 19th and the 22nd December.
EuroMed is held during the schools Christmas holidays where winter sailing in the Centre of the Mediterranean, with pleasant daytime and sea temperatures, clear and blue waters attract foreign competing youngsters to travel to Malta accompanied by other members of their families to race and also taste the holiday values of our country.
The Mapfre Middlesea Euromed Regatta, first held in 1999 and now in its 19th Edition, is organised by the Malta Young Sailors Club, sponsored by Mapfre Middlesea p.l.c. and supported by Yachting Malta. The Mellieha Bay Hotel overlooking Ghadira Bay, the Regatta's racing arena, is the event's official hotel.
The Optimist, one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, is a small, single-handed sailing dinghies intended for use by children up to the age of 15. The Optimist is recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation. The dinghy is classified as a "pram" because of its shallow-draught flat-bottom.
There will be three Optimist Classes, namely, the Senior Division for Boys and Girls between 12 and 15 years, the Cadet Division for Boys and Girls born between 8 and 11 years, and the Beginners' Division for Boys and Girls born between 2001 and 2008, who have only been sailing for 12 months.
There will also be Laser 4.7, Radial and for the first time Standard fleets which will be sailed in a single series but on a separate course to the Optimists.
The past eighteen editions gave Malta the pride of seven victories, followed by Italy and Russia boasting three victories each, with Sweden registering two wins, concluding the prestigious eighteen winners line-up with Great Britain, Iceland and Turkey showing-off one triumph each.
Two of the past eighteen winners won the Euromed twice each. These were Thomas Zammit Tabona who won in 2006 and 2007 and Richard Schultheis who won in 2015 and 2017, both of whom represented Malta and the Malta Young Sailors Club.
"I took part in my first Euromed in 2002 when I was 8 years old and I'm pretty sure I froze and came last in every race! In all I took part in 6 editions from 2002 till 2008 on Optimist, winning the first time in 2006 and then again in 2007.
The event itself took me to another level in terms of my confidence, knowledge and ability to control the boat as if it were a part of me. This ultimately grew my attraction to compete further as well as maintain the 'feel of the boat' in other forms of sailing. In summary, the event gives you what I feel no training can prepare you for and still holds value as one of my best experiences" remarked Thomas Zammit Tabona now 24 years-old and still a keen sailor who has amongst his many sailing adventures three editions of the Rolex Middle Sea Race (2010, 2011 and 2012), as well as the Etchells Gertrude Cup in Cowes, Isle of Wight, in 2016.
Again this year the Malta Young Sailors Club are offering a pre-Euromed 'clinic' - 5 hours per day over 5 days (13th to 17th December) - led by acknowledged Slovenian coach Maurizio Bencic, whose style of coaching and advanced sailing techniques complement the weather and sailing conditions. The other Euromed 'twice winner' Richard Schultheis, a student at the pre-Euromed 'clinic' besides winning last year's Edition went on to win 4th place at the Optimist World Championships, won by Marco Gradoni (Italy).
D'Arcey Betschart, a Bermudian whose daughter Rachael will be competing in Euromed the first time believes that "the event attracts a very diverse group of sailors from countries we don't often race against. The wind and wave conditions are perfect for racing and the location itself is inviting for the parents to travel somewhere new and different."
Mrs Betschart, a member of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, also considers that "having a pre-event clinic further improves the experience. Yes! Very beneficial. It's a great opportunity for our sailors to experience a new sailing venue and have some time to adapt to the area before racing."
The 19th Edition of the Mapfre Middlesea EUROMED Regatta 2018 will once again have an international jury team and held under the patronage of the Malta Sailing Federation.