The 2015 Optimist European Championships got off to an exciting start in Pwllheli, Wales, last weekend.
After a warm-up race in a stiff breeze gusting over 20 knots and a 1.5m swell, teams from 37 countries were paraded through Pwllheli and on to the Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy for the opening ceremony.
Located in Snowdonia National Park, Plas Heli is the perfect location for such an event with world class sailing conditions and onshore facilities.
With 256 boys and girls under the age of 15, racing is proving to be very competitive.
Malta has a team of eight sailors at the Europeans – Lucas Le Gault, Matthew Micallef, Gaby Mifsud, Jake Satariano, Antonia Schul-theis, Richard Schultheis, Victoria Schultheis and Kane Seychell.
They are accompanied by coach Jean Paul Fleri Soler and team leader Anna Rossi.
Qualifying races took place over the first three days with boys divided into three groups and the girls in two sections. Following the qualifications there will be two days racing in the finals.
On a positive note for the Maltese team, Victoria Schultheis recovered from a disappointing start to place first in two of the opening races and move up to eighth in the overall standings.
Previous experience
Schultheis recently finished second female at the popular Topsport Vlaanderen Nieuwpoor-tweek (Flanders).
She is no stranger to Pwllheli waters having taken second spot overall (first female) at the 2014 Optimist Pwllheli International Regatta – the official Europeans test event – this time last year.
“From sailing here last year I learned not to make too many tacks on the upwind like I’m used to,” she said.
“The wind conditions and waves are pretty similar to sailing at home but wind shifts here are not so often.”
The Optimist is one of the biggest racing classes in the world and is widely regarded as a breeding ground for future international sailing success. Over 90 per cent of sailors at London 2012 raced Optimists as juniors, including TeamGB medallists Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark, Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson and Luke Patience.
The championships in Pwllheli come to a close on Friday.