Fifteen-year-old Katrina Micallef of the Royal Malta Yacht Club wrote a new page in Maltese sailing history by taking the U16 bronze medal at the 2023 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships, hosted by the Nautical Club of Volos & Argonauts in Greece.
Micallef, who only recently moved up to the ILCA 4 after several years of racing in the Optimist class, finished twelfth overall in a 150-strong fleet. Earlier this summer she also won gold at the Games of the Small States of Europe in Malta.
Sailors faced a variety of conditions over the six-day championship, with winds ranging from 6 to 14 knots. Benjamin Vassallo of the Malta Young Sailors Club also impressed, finishing twelfth overall in a fleet of 287.
“We are very proud of Katrina’s result. These championships brought together hundreds of athletes from around the world, amongst whom are future Olympians. Such results are great news for homegrown talent,” remarked Alexandr Denisiuc, coach and Committee Member at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, who supported the Maltese sailors in Greece with fellow RMYC Sailing School coach Ruya Cakmakli.
