Top honour returns to Malta thanks to Zammit Tabona

When an event reaches a certain standing and offers a high level of competition, it becomes difficult to predict winners while the efforts of local participants have to be extra convincing and fine-tuned.

In fact, the winners of the first six Euromed Malta Championships hailed from different countries. Yet, on the seventh year, Malta made the podium again when, after a four-year foreign dominance, the overall winner was Maltese.

The Euromeds play host to an international fleet of U-16 sailors where the Optimist Sailing Dinghy, the internationally recognised one design single-handed craft, is raced.

The past winners came from Ireland in 2000 - Lisa Tait (13); Sweden in 2001 - Ton Thorn - (13); Malta in 2002 - Matthew Fleri Soler (14); Italy in 2003 - Valentino Valacchi (14); Sweden in 2004 - Henrik Grim (14); Turkey in 2005 - Okan Arin (12), and Malta again in 2006 with Thomas Zammit Tabona (12).

The level of the top 10 sailors in this last edition was very close and up to the very last day of racing, results could have gone any way.

Alessandre Massard, of Switzerland, ranked in his country's top five, was here in preparation for the Worlds a week after the Euromeds. The Italian sailors from Lake Garda and another team from Sicily were also superb.

Last summer, the locals competed against the Sicilian team in the Island Games where the latter won the gold and our youngsters settled for bronze.

This edition's fleet of participants came from Norway, England, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco.

For the first time, the Euromed hosted sailors from Norway and Monaco. Malta's Karl Miggiani was the youngest, aged eight, in the racing fleet while the youngest foreign competitors, all aged 10, were Ella Stoggall (Great Britain), Italian twins Stefano and GianMaria Ferrighi and Nils H. Hofmann (Germany).

The change of location from St Paul's Bay to Mellieha Bay was considered a "most positive decision" where the Adira Sailing Centre, the championship headquarters, made that valid difference. Besides, the championship's hotel, the Sea πBank, was a five-minute walk from the launching area.

The weather was very mild with no strong wind and thus it was possible to sail all scheduled 11 races.

"The weather favoured us and the fact that we started training in Mellieha two months before the Euromed was also of great help," remarked Malta coach Jean Paul Fleri Soler.

Winner Zammit Tabona, 12, was one of the favourites and the conditions suited him as he was one of the lighter sailors. He started sailing at Malta Young Sailors Club at the age of seven. The year 2006 also saw him winning the National Championships, and he is now planning to go to an international event together with the rest of the national team.

Zammit Tabona is also on the list, although yet to qualify, for the Monaco GSSE next June.

A pleasant surprise came from Edward Fleri Soler, 10. Not only did he win the Cadets section but surprised everyone by finishing second overall. Miggiani won the junior class and Ella Fleri Soler won the females.

Laser regatta

Concurrently with the Optimists, the main attraction of the championships, a Lasers Class Regatta for over 16's was also raced.

Peter Valentino was the jury chairman. He was assisted by a panel made up of Luciano Giacomi (Italy), Costas Tsantillis (Greece) both of whom have been part of the Euromed team before, Margriet Pannevis (Holland), and France's Jean Luc Michon. Jovin Rausi was also part of the jury as a national judge.

The Euromed Malta Championship is one of those local events that present a great potential in the sport-tourism sphere. The international regatta is held during the Christmas holidays where young foreign sailing enthusiasts, possibly accompanied by other family members, could fly to Malta to participate in a pleasant and challenging event in mild weather conditions.

In fact, Air Malta, the Euromeds official carrier, collaborates with and supports the MYSC in their endeavour.

Yet, I sincerely believe that more recognition and assistance should be extended to this valid event by other authorities. The championship is sanctioned by the Malta Sailing Federation.

Seventh euromed Results

Optimist Class: 1. Thomas Zammit Tabona (Malta), 2. Edward Fleri Soler (Malta), 3. Alessandre Massard (Switzerland).

Optimist Class (girls): 1. Ella Fleri Soler (Malta), 2. Karina Vangelova (Bulgaria), 3. Marine Prat (Monaco).

Optimist Cadet Class: 1. Edward Fleri Soler (Malta), 2. Gianmaria Ferrighi (Italy), 3. Stefano Ferrighi (Italy).

Optimist Cadet Junior Class: 1. Karl Miggiani (Malta), 2. Ryan Abela (Malta), 3. Matthew Westwood (Malta).

Laser Standard Class: 1. Soenke Bruhms (Germany), 2. Aaron Podesta (Malta), 3. Darren Cauchi (Malta).

Laser Radial Class: 1. Christophe Podesta (Malta), 2. Matthew Fleri Soler (Malta), 3. Simon Aquilina (Malta).

Laser 4.7 Class: 1. Dimitar Vangelov (Bulgaria), 2. Vito Genna (Italy), 3. Cinzia Rinaudo (Italy).