Young sailors make Malta proud, again

The enthusiastic efforts being done by the Malta Young Sailors Club have once again proved their worth. Two Maltese sailors travelled to Poland earlier this month to take part in the European Optimist Championship.

232 sailors, representing 41 nations, gathered in the port of Gdynia, northern Poland, where a series of 11 races were held.

Prior to expanding more on these championships it is worth appreciating the key role Optimists play in the world of sailing.

The Optimist is, quite simply, the dinghy in which young people learn to sail. This flat-bottomed 2.31m 'bathtub' is today sailed in over 110 countries by over 150,000.

It is the only dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 16 years of age.

Statistics after last year's Olympics confirmed that over 70% of the medal-winning skippers were former Optimist sailors.

This shows why the Gdynia Championships, although of European status, were also patronised by the best young sailors of countries like Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Peru, South Africa and the US although they were not eligible for the title.

Malta's representatives were Karl Cremona, 14, and 13-year-old William Camilleri. They contested a boys' class made up of 139 sailors.

In such level of play the two lived up to the occasion and attained excellent results - Cremona placed 11th and Camilleri 41st.

Accompanying the team was Malta Young Sailors Club coach Jean Paul Fleri Soler. He has been following Cremona and Camilleri since they started sailing.

"The level of competition at these Europeans was extremely high. Most countries organized selection races to choose their leading sailors," Fleri Soler said.

The podium awards went to Jess Lynhe Bonde, of Denmark, followed by Diego Botin L'Echever, of Spain, and Greece's Akiklas Drougas.

In the girls' category, contested by 93 competitors, the winner was Emma Olielund, of Sweden. Flia Borrego Arnau, of Spain, was second and Italy's Camilla Marinoof third.

The European Optimist Championship were acclaimed as highly successful.

There were many sponsors behind the event. The main 'supporters' were NIVEA, who since 2002 have launched a national campaign in Poland, the NIVEA Blue Sails Programme.

Since the beginning of the programme, the financial subsidies and material support (sails, life jackets and other accessories) towards the Polish Sailing Association and the National Optimist Class Association in this long-term commitment is already worth US$1 million.

Realistically 'dreaming', one cannot think nor project on such dimensions when talking of sponsorships for local events even if these are masterly organised and recognised for their international standing.

However, we cannot underestimate our potential as a venue of unequalled characteristics and also the many seasoned and respected organisers of special events.

Keeping to the subject, I have to mention the Euromed Malta Championship, superbly organised for five years now by the Malta Young Sailors Club.

This is an international manifestation for Optimist sailors which last year drew to our shores 109 competitors from 11 countries.

The next Euromeds are due in December and one cannot but wish the MYSC, the people who are doing so much for both the physical and even the moral upbringing of our youngsters, the best of luck in securing all the support they require to carry on with their great work.