Schultheis clinches his second EuroMed
Malta’s 12-year-old Richard Schultheis is the winner of the 18th edition of the MAPFRE Middlesea EuroMed Regatta 2017 held at Mellieha Bay.
A total of 154 young sailors from 20 countries participated in this edition which gave Malta its seventh overall title. Russia and Italy follow with 3 victories each, having Sweden cherishing two wins, concluding the prestigious 18 winners’ line-up with Great Britain, Iceland and Turkey showing-off one triumph each.
Taking results by categories, the top three sailors in each category were:
Optimist Open GOLD Fleet – 56 participants: 1st OVERALL. Richard Schultheis (MLT), 2nd. Saul Vassallo (MLT), 3rd. Maksim Shaposhnikov (RUS).
Optimist Open SILVER Fleet – 55 participants: 1st. Noela Petesic (CRO), 2nd. Saverio Tosto (ITA), 3rd. Jake Mallia (MLT).
Optimist Novice Fleet – 16 participants: 1st. Jean Paul Zahra (MLT), 2nd. Timmy Vassallo (MLT), 3rd. Demir Demirsoy (TUR).
Laser 4.7 Fleet – 15 participants: 1st. Thomas Westerhof (NED), 2nd. Thomas Van-Ofwegen (NED), 3rd. Timo Bonnici (MLT).
Laser Radial Fleet – 12 participants: 1st. Jack Aitken (PUR), 2nd. Eric Malach (GER), 3rd. Karl Miggiani (MLT).
From the above listed Top-Three winners of each category, one finds eight foreign and seven Maltese sailors. Amongst these stand out Jack Aitken, a member of the RNYC, who raced for the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico which indeed shows the international popularity the MAPFRE Middlesea EuroMed Regatta enjoys.
From a local aspect the overall results obtained are also encouraging. “I am very satisfied that MYSC sailors managed a 1st, 2nd and a 4th place. Furthermore the Overall trophy has another Maltese (MYSC) sailor’s name on it. I was hoping to have 5 sailors in the top 10 but on the last day the first race was sailed in very light and shifty winds and this upset our results.
My team was made up of 12 sailors and somehow I expected some better results from some of the others; but hopefully they will continue to work hard to improve in the coming months,” remarked Jean Paul Fleri Soler, the Malta Young Sailors Club Youth Development Officer.
EuroMed is held during the schools’ Christmas holidays where winter sailing in the Centre of the Mediterranean, with pleasant daytime and sea temperatures, clear and blue waters attract foreign competing youngsters to travel to Malta accompanied by other members of their families to race and also taste the holiday values of our country.
The Euromed regatta is organised by the Malta Young Sailors Club and sponsored by MAPFRE Middlesea p.l.c. under the patronage of the Malta Sailing Federation. The db Seabank Resort + Spa once again was the official hotel of the regatta.
At the end of the four-day event, Mr Giorgio Grech, Head of the MAPFRE Middlesea Luqa Regional Office, presented the trophies to the various winners.
Paola Hibs Floriana 2 1
Paola Hibs managed to turn defeat into victory after being a goal in arrears in the first period.
Their victory was a deserved one as they created more actions than Floriana who had four regulars missing through sickness.
Floriana created the first two actions. After a flag kick by Brady Agius, Paola keeper Ryan Vella saved a close-range shot by Matthias Formosa.
Bradley Sciberras then pounced on a faulty clearance on the edge of the area but missed the upright from his hard grounder with Vella beaten.
Two actions were then created by Paola. Michael Gatt served Matthew Portelli with a good pass outside the area but he missed the upright from the distance. Matthias Vella then dribbled past two opponents on the left flank and after advancing, crossed the ball in the area but there were no takers to apply the killer touch.
In the 14th minute, Floriana opened the score when Leo Agius was fouled on the left flank and after the free kick by the same player, Paola player Michael Gatt handled the ball in the area. Sciberras converted from the spot with a hard grounder.
Paola then created the last two actions before the break. Matthew Portelli dribbled past two opponents outside the area and Floriana keeper Christopher Farrugia saved his distant shot. Moriantes Muscat then dribbled past an opponent on the right flank but Farrugia neutralised the ball following his high cross in the area.
The first actions after the resumption were created by Floriana. Malcolm Agius released Formosa in the area and after Vella partly saved his close-range shot the ball was cleared away.
After a Brady Agius flag kick,