Fleri Soler pulls out of Pozzallo race
Wilson joins Bonello, Ellul and Vagi in race line-up
Jean Paul Fleri Soler, a myth in the Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race successful story, will not be contesting the special 20 Years After edition of the event scheduled for the third weekend of September.
Fleri Soler was a regular representative on the event's 10-year span having even won two editions, namely those of 1984 and 1987.
Besides, he is the holder of the 93km race record time, 5:56.35, es-tablished in the first race in 1984.
"I appreciate Jean Paul's position and with so much memorable connections with the event I am sure this was not a pleasant decision for him to make," commented race organiser Wilfred Sultana.
The reason for his withdrawal was due to a demanding commitment as national coach of the Optimist U-16 national sailing team which left him no time whatsoever to prepare for such a tough challenge.
Fleri Soler has occupied this role for nearly six years and besides regular weekend meetings he is also committed with the 20 young sailors making up his squad to one physical training session during weekdays.
To continue with the original plan of having four competitors in the race, the organisers have invited Andrew Wilson to take up Fleri Soler's place.
Wilson took part in the last Pozzallo Race in 1994 and although younger than the Fleri Soler-Bonello-Ellul group his windsurfing credentials include a bronze medal at the 1993 GSSE and a silver at the GSSE 1997.
He represented Malta at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, participated in the Isle of Wight European Championships and in the World Championships in Hyeres, France.
Between 1993 and 1997 Fleri Soler was Wilson's coach.
Besides, he has been the national Raceboard champion for the past ten years and is well remembered as a leading figure in the Wishbone Junior Windsurfing Championships held in the 80's and the early 90's.
Yet, irrespective of not competing in the race Fleri Soler has been invited to form part of the race contingent. He will follow proceedings from onboard one of the yachts making up the support fleet and attend the presentation ceremony in Pozzallo after the race.
Wilson will now join Peter Bonello, Paul Ellul and US windsurfer Gobor Vagi on the Malta-Sicily Windsurf Race - 20 Years After which is being sponsored by the Bank of Valletta, Globalair Travel and Tourism, S & D Yachts Ltd, the Casinò di Venezia and H2 Only.