Young Maltese Sailors Beat Hundreds Of Competitors At Multi-Race World Championships In Greece
Two young Maltese sailors have made their mark at the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships held in Volos, Greece.
Benjamin Vassallo of the Malta Young Sailors Club achieved an impressive 12th place overall in the boys’ category amongst a robust pool of 287 sailors. Vassallo, also a bronze medalist at the recent Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), managed to secure a noteworthy 3rd place in the second race of the championship, with his best end-of-day ranking being 8th overall. The title went to Weka Bhanubandh from Thailand, but both Maltese sailors, Vassallo and Micallef, captured significant attention and praise.
Fifteen-year-old Katrina Micallef from the Royal Malta Yacht Club clinched a historic bronze medal in the U16 category of the championship, a first for Maltese sailing. Micallef’s journey in the sport saw her transition from the Optimist Class to the ILCA 4, where she showcased her prowess by finishing 12th overall in a fleet of 150 participants. Furthermore, she bagged a gold medal at this year’s Games of the Small States of Europe held in Malta.
“We are incredibly proud of Katrina’s result. These championships brought together hundreds of athletes from around the globe, including future Olympians. Such results are indeed heartening for homegrown talent,” said Alexandr Denisiuc, Coach and Committee Member at the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
The Maltese sailing community, although relatively modest in size, has been punching above its weight on the international stage. Sailors like Micallef and Vassallo are the flagbearers, consistently bringing laurels and recognition to the nation.
Throughout the six-day championship, participants encountered a mix of sailing conditions with wind speeds fluctuating between 6 to 14 knots. Both sailors were adeptly assisted by RMYC Sailing School coaches Ruya Cakmakli and Alexandr Denisiuc.
Following this championship, Vassallo is prepped to transition to the ILCA 6 Class upon his return to Malta.
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