Podesta proud to fly Malta's flag

There were moments when Maya Podesta wondered whether it was all worth it. For quite a few years now every spare moment in her life has been dedicated to sailing - and when the weather or time of day did not permit her to get out on the water, she would work out at the gym. For the past eight months, her sailing kit is always ready in the back of her car.

It was hard enough to cope when she was a medical student but it is probably even harder now that she is doing her internship at St Luke's. But although she would be the first to admit that those moments exist, she adds straight away that they are very, very short.

"All I have ever wanted to do was to sail," she said. "I feel so happy when I'm on the water."

Podesta leaves at the end of this week for Cascais in Portugal, where she will represent Malta in the World Championships. She will be one of 1,600 participants, 110 of whom will be competing in her event, the Laser Radial.

"You cannot imagine how it feels to see Malta's flag there with all the others on the breakwater," she said, recalling some of her previous regattas.

The World Championships are more than just a race. They are the first qualifying round for the Olympic Games in Beijing next year - if she succeeds, she would be the first contestant in this event to qualify from Malta. Although Malta has sent representatives before, they were selected on other criteria.

It has been a good year so far for Podesta. She has competed in Barcelona, Palma and France, as well to Monaco at the Small Nations Games, where she came joint fourth.

The race in France, the Semaine Olympique Francaise, is a Grade 1 event, a top ranking competition. One Grade 1 event is held on each continent every year, in addition to the World Championships. Three-quarters of the Olympic spots will be filled from Cascais; the rest from next year's Worlds in New Zealand.

The Maltese Olympic Committee and Malta Sailing Federation do what they can to help - but that is rarely enough when you get beyond a certain stage. Podesta has had to fork out hundreds herself, not only for flights and accommodation but also to charter a boat.

"Sailors in Malta are not paid to race full-time; the other people I met abroad did nothing but race and train all year and had a team to get their equipment to the venue. And of course, sponsorship in Malta is limited," she said.

Podesta also got considerable help from the government, which authorised sports leave, but she knows that it is always hard.

"I really appreciate the support from my colleagues, especially as they would have to pitch in for me in my absence," she said.

Unfortunately, the national Laser sailing coach Mario Aquilina could not make it to Cascais and at one point, she was really toying with the idea of backing out. Luckily, her former coach Bogdan Andersz offered to accompany her, at his own expense.

"I went to a few regattas alone and it was so horrible, even though you make friends. You need someone to tow you to the start of the race and to help you afterwards. And you need someone to talk to, someone to support you both on and off the water," she said.

What are her chances of qualifying? She is too modest to say, but she came joint fourth in the Small Nations Games, even though she did not feel that she had reached her personal best. And she came ninth in one race in France, competing against top sailors from around the world.

"There is usually a lot of wind in Cascais and much higher waves than in the Mediterranean. But that is what racing is all about... you become consistent with time and with experience," Podesta said.

She tries not to look at her watch but a quick glance through her window shows why she is getting fidgety. It is great, really great sailing weather and her kit is ready in the boot of her car.

Podesta has a long and gruelling two weeks ahead but she knows that the Malta flag will fly proudly in Portugal and perhaps, just perhaps, in Beijing.