Timmy Vassallo won the hotly contested Optimist Senior category at the 21st Mapfre Euromed International Regatta, pipping Jonas Micallef by a single point on a final day that came down to the wire in Mellieħa Bay.
Tuesday’s conditions were the calmest of the four days, with around seven knots and flat water, and with one or two points separating most of the leaders, every point was fought for. Vassallo and Micallef had started the day level; fourth-ranked Spaniard Tim Lubat climbed back to third. In the Beginners, Michael Cremona regained first place ahead of Timothy De Cesare and Jacob Carl Delia.
In ILCA 4, Benjamin Vassallo overtook Shaun Aquilina on the last day to win by two points, with Canada’s Carlo Charabati third. Jean Paul Zahra won the last three ILCA 6 races to take the title from Matthew Flores, who had led the previous days, with Dimitris Vertsonis third.
“It was rewarding to welcome back international sailors, some of which are highly ranked in the world,” said Christian Bajada, Commodore of the Malta Young Sailors’ Club. “Of course, having Maltese sailors performing so well fills us with great pride. There certainly is a bright future for our youngsters.” The Club thanked Mapfre Middlesea Insurance, Yachting Malta, the Malta Sailing Federation and its volunteers.
