Top Italian sailor training with Malta GSSE hopefuls

Italian sailor Michele Paoletti is currently in Malta for three weeks of intensive training with the local Laser class national team.

Paoletti is the second-best sailor from his country in the International Sailing Federation's world ranking list for the Laser class, the only Olympic category sailed competitively in Malta.

Hailing from Trieste, Paoletti has won many stages of the Italian national championships as well as prestigious Laser international events over the past three years.

His visit to Malta is the result of efforts from the federation and the financial aid coming from the Sports Secretariat and the Malta Olympic Committee.

In Malta, Paoletti will act as 'sparring' partner for the Maltese sailors who are training for the GSSE. Training has been going on for the past three years now, under the direction of national coach Jerome Mainemare, a Spaniard.

The intensity of coaching this year was increased to reach higher levels with most of the sailors manoeuvring on the water four time a week besides two demanding sessions at the gym.

Mario Aquilina and Peter Valentino Jnr, the top top locals, are on the water six times and practise in the gym for four mornings weekly.

Coaching is taking place in and outside St Paul's Bay, the shore base for the Laser fleet being one of the Primary School's yards.

Here, one has to point out that sailing is the only GSSE discipline that has not yet been allocated a proper base from where to coordinate the sport.

The federation fully appreciates the school heads' assistance but there is still a lot of concern for the boats which are continuously exposed to open elements while in 'storage'.

It is a known fact that all other GSSE sailing federations have for years enjoyed the use of proper clubhouses, adequate storage facilities and decent slipways.

In the meantime, the remaining three ranking regattas for Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Optimist classes will be held over the weekend of March 1 and 2 in St Paul's Bay. Results here will determine the GSSE list of sailors in each of the three classes.