Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/599604
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2015 Sport SAILING On This Friday's Show Michael Diacono makes three exciting dishes with capers Fridays at 18:15 on TVM Great turnout for Royal Malta Yacht Club 2015 National Dinghy Championships THE 2015 National Dinghy cham- pionships, organized by the Malta Sailing Federation and hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club saw a large f leet with 61 boats, repre- senting Birzebbugia Sailing Club, Malta Young Sailors Club and Royal Malta Yacht Club, split into Optimist, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, RS Feva and RS Vision classes. For Laser and Optimist Classes, results of this Championship counted towards the Malta Sailing Federation's National Ranking Lists. Racing, which took place out- side Marsamxett Harbour was split over two days. The first day saw sailors compete in good con- ditions where a north easterly wind and medium swell saw them undertake three races. Day two started off with a good breeze however this died down as the day progressed resulting in just one race for all Classes except for the Standard Class and the Opti- mist class which managed to un- dertake two races. For the first time, these Cham- pionships saw the Royal Malta Yacht Club Sailing School take part, fielding over seven teams on Feva and Vision boats, most- ly trained by the Sailing School coaches. Moreover, a good in- ternational representation in the Standard Class saw sailors hailing from Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Moldova, the Seychelles and Tunisia. Youssef Akrout from Tunisia and Allan Julie from the Seychelles have represented their countries in the Olympic Games. Akrout has already qualified for 2016 whilst Julie is preparing for his participation in qualifying events next month. The largest f leet of dinghy sailors in the Opti- mist and laser class were from the Malta Young Sailors Club. "It was a pleasure to host these championships, the Club's boat park was bursting to the seams with all the activity and boats making it such a lovey atmos- phere for the Club", commented David Anastasi, Royal Malta Yacht Club Rear Commodore (Sailing). "We always enjoy wel- coming crews from other Clubs and we have already planned two dinghy regattas for the 2016 Rac- ing Calendar". A Prize Giving Ceremony was held shortly after the conclusion of racing at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in the presence of Anna Rossi, Malta Sailing Federation President, Peter Dimech, 2015 National Dinghy Sailing Cham- pionships Race Officer and God- win Zammit, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. "These Championships are the culmination of a year of hard work from sailors, Clubs and the Federation and it is with pride and satisfaction that we see, not only new faces on the scene but also sailors improving and developing their skills further", said Anna Rossi, President of the Malta Sail- ing Federation. "We also would like to thank Yachting Malta for their contribution towards sup- porting these Championships". Some of the competitors during the 2015 National Dinghy Championships. Photo Credit: RMYC/Maria Vella-Galea Seniors 3rd Antonia Schulteis - (Malta Young Sailors Club) 2nd Victoria Schulteis - (Malta Young Sailors Club) 1st Matthew Micallef - (Malta Young Sailors Club) Cadet 3rd Kristian Borg Nicholas - (Malta Young Sailors Club) 2nd Luke Rausi - (Malta Young Sailors Club) 1st Richard Schulteis - (Malta Young Sailors Club) Novice 3rd Ben Vassallo (Malta Young Sailors Club) 2nd Alice Gasperini (Malta Young Sailors Club) 1st Daniel Ciantar (Birzebbugia Sailing Club) Laser 4.7 3rd Abigail Fenech (Malta Young Sailors Club) 2nd Zach Zammit (Malta Young Sailors Club) 1st Robert Fenech (Malta Young Sailors Club) Laser Radial 3rd Roberto Briffa (Birzebbugia Sailing Club) 2nd Richard Loglan (Ireland) 1st Karl Miggiani (Malta Young Sailors Club) Laser Standard 3rd Segawa Kazymasa – Japan 2nd Yousef Akrout – Tunisia 1st Alexander Denisuk – Moldova RS Visions 3rd Chris Dougall / Kai Dougall (Royal Malta Yacht Club / Royal Malta Yacht Club ) 2nd Daniel Fenech / Katryna Vassallo (Royal Malta Yacht Club ) /(Malta Young Sailors Club) 1st Paul Debono / Pierre Mifsud ((Birzebbugia Sailing Club / Birzebbugia Sailing Club) RS Fevas 3rd Nick Bonello Ghio / Alex Bartoli - (Royal Malta Yacht Club) 2nd Michaela Mifsud / Mattea Ciantar - (Royal Malta Yacht Club) 1st Harry Parnis England / Kane Seychell - (Royal Malta Yacht Club) Special Awards Joe Borg Costanzi Trophy for the winner in the numerous fl eet in the Laser Classes - Robert Fenech National Champion Shield – Matthew Micallef /Richard Schulteis Largest Club Representation – Malta Young Sailors Club More information on the Royal Malta Yacht Club can be obtained via www.rmyc.org Results of the 2015 National Dinghy Championships