PSC Junior Sailors attend Euromed International Championships in Malta
While Britain was basking in the grips of winter snow, four keen young sailors from Papercourt ( William Birchall, Xavier Iafrate, James Scott and Frederick Verburgt ) flew out to Malta, then basking in 16 deg.c, to compete in the 10th Euromed International Championship, which took place from 17th to 21st December 2009.
The Malta Young Sailors Club, in partnership with the Maltese Council for Sport under the auspices of the Malta Sailing Federatio, were the organisers of the championship this year. The Championship took place in Mellieha Bay in the North of the Island which hosts Malta's largest sandy beach.
It was a great opportunity for Papercourt's talented young sailors to get some warm winter sailing, and expert on and off-water tuition from Chris Witty, an IOCA supported GBR coach. Each day started with the "GBR Team" which consisted of 8 Optimist Main Fleet Sailors, 3 Optimist Regatta Fleet Sailors, and 2 Laser 4.7 sailors from around Great Britain, having a pre race briefing from Chris to discuss course tactics, prevailing conditions and rules. Each evening the team sat down with Chris for an hour to review videos, results, and to discuss improvements that could be made to the following day's sailing.
Ten races were spread over four days. The sailing conditions were fabulous and very challenging for our young sailors.... F4-5 west-south-west winds blowing for two days, a little less for the remainder. Three world courses were set on each of the first three days that included three very long beats.
There were 71 entrants in all 3 Fleets hailing from Sweden, Russia, France, Italy, Malta and Great Britain. In the Optimist Main Fleet there were 40 participants. It was an exciting end to the championship with the last race deciding 1st and 3rd place to be taken by Russian competitors, and 2nd place going to a Maltese sailor. Our sailors enjoyed the experience of their first International Championship event, Freddie Verburgt came 21st, James Scott 24th, Will Birchall 32nd, and Xavier Iafrate 36th.
