Malta’s Victoria Schultheis crowned Optimist World Champion

Malta’s young and upcoming sailor Victoria Schultheis was crowned the new Optimist World Champion in the recently held competition in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Victoria Schultheis
Victoria Schultheis

The Optimist World Championship 2016 in fleet racing were held from the 25th June till the 1st of July in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Six days with two races each day were planned. The fleet of 255 sailors had six races of qualifying before they were divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Emerald. The wind conditions in these first three days were light and very shifty.

For the final series the wind picked up and the races could be held in 8 to 17 knots. Six races should be sailed the last three days, but a very shifty wind didn’t cooperate in the last day of racing and it was only possible to complete one of the two races scheduled in the gold, silver and bronze fleet. At the only race sailed there was a Southwest 10 knots breeze.

In the males’ category Max Wallenberg was crowned World Champion. Norway´s Mathias Berthet that was the leader had a BFD and fall to the 2nd place. Malaysia’s Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah had a BFD too, but secured the bronze medal.

In the females’ category , Malta’s Victoria Schultheis (20th provisional overall) won a coveted gold medal and the overall title. Denmark’s Helena Wolff  (22nd overall) got the silver and Jodie Lai, from Singapore, finished third.

In the bronze fleet Malta’s Jake Satariano was leading up to the last race. He finished 3rd, only 8 points behind the leader Manuel Ramos from Portugal. Lucas Le Gault came 56th in the bronze fleet.

In the coming days,  five sailors from Malta Young Sailors Club will travel to Crotone, Italy for the European Championship 2016.