Matthew Flores and Jonas Micallef won the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 classes at the Yachting Malta Birżebbuġa International Regatta, leading a strong showing by the Royal Malta Yacht Club Sailing School over four days of demanding racing between 7th and 10th February.
Racing took place outside Freeport Harbour, where a predominantly westerly airflow created steep, choppy waves and a persistent shoreline current put a premium on tactics, starts and downwind lane management. The opening two days brought steady westerlies of 12 knots and more, allowing a full programme including a catch-up race. On day three winds of 25–27 knots saw the fleet sent ashore after one ILCA race, before the regatta closed in strong but manageable 15–20 knots.
Despite the range of conditions, the race committee completed 11 races for the ILCA classes and 10 for the Optimists, with local and international juries overseeing the event.
| Class | Result | Sailor |
|---|---|---|
| ILCA 7 | 1st | Matthew Flores |
| ILCA 6 | 1st overall | Jonas Micallef |
| ILCA 6 | 3rd overall, 1st girl | Katrina Micallef |
| ILCA 4 | 2nd girl | Samantha Axisa |
| Optimist Cadet | 2nd | Jari Schaefer Dorn |
| Optimist Senior | 4th | Ethan Kodjaazliev |
| Optimist Novice | 4th | George Podesta |
In the Optimist Novice fleet, George Podesta narrowly missed a medal despite two over-the-line starts in the strong current, showing rapid progress in a short time. The team was supported by Head Coach Ruya Cakmakli, Neus Garcia Perez, and Karlis Junkers, assisted by Tomek Vaccaro. The Club thanked the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club and Yachting Malta for organising the regatta.
Photo Credit: Pav Ellul & Crispin Gauci Peresso
