Malta Young Sailors team in Portugal

The European Optimist Championships are currently being held in Tavira, Portugal. Five young sailors from the Malta Young Sailors Club are among an impressive entry of hundreds of competitors from 35 countries.

The Malta team, assisted by Air Malta and the Malta Olympic Committee, consists of Zach Borg, Benjamin Borg, Daniel Calascione, Matthew Fleri Soler and Jan Rossi, all of whom have already acquired considerable experience in overseas events notwithstanding their tender age. They are assisted by coach Jean Paul Fleri Soler along with assistants Mark Fleri Soler, Anna Rossi and Andre Borg.

Despite being the European Championships, top Optimist sailors from all parts of the globe are competing for honours in Portugal as racing is already underway. The series comes to a close this weekend.

After the first three races, Fleri Soler was 40th in the provisional standings. He placed 19th, 25th and 32nd in the opening round of races.

Danny Calascione was 100th (61st, 38th, 50th), Zach Borg 112th (59th, 60th, 45th), Benjamin Borg 125th (38th, 49th) and Rossi 150th (68th, 63rd, 75th).

With 10 sailors from outside the continent in front of him, Fleri Soler was 30th from the European sailors at that moment.

Matthew Mariani Gibeli, from Monaco, was the provisional highest-ranked competitor from a nation taking part in next year's Games of the Small States of Europe. He was 85th.