The Royal Malta Yacht Club Sailing School produced a strong performance at the Sailing Point Easter Regatta 2026, held in Portorož, Slovenia, with the event coming to a close on Easter Sunday.
Competing against a strong international fleet, the club’s Optimist sailors delivered a series of encouraging results at one of the key events on the European youth sailing calendar. This year’s regatta attracted 396 sailors from 15 countries.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club contingent was led by team leader Rachel Ferry and Sailing School head coach Ruya Cakmakli, with six sailors representing the club, namely Gianni Bianchi, Polina Chaplytska, Jaime Escudero Carra, Ethan Kodjaazliev, Marko Kuvichkin and Ben Spiteri Bailey.
Ahead of the regatta, the Maltese team also completed a four-day training camp under the guidance of Maurizio Bencic, with the focus placed on adapting to local conditions and refining race routines.
The competition itself presented a variety of challenges. The opening day proved particularly demanding, with sailors spending close to seven hours on the water while waiting for a stable breeze. Racing eventually got underway in winds of 12 to 17 knots, although conditions later became unstable again, forcing the fleet to move outside the harbour.
The following days were dominated by lighter winds, especially across the final three days, placing greater emphasis on consistency, boat handling and decision making. The first two days consisted of qualification rounds, followed by final fleet racing over the remaining two days. A full programme was completed, with 10 races held in the Gold Fleet and nine in the Silver Fleet.
In the Gold Fleet, which featured 93 sailors, Gianni Bianchi finished 11th overall after a consistent series that included a race victory and a second-place finish in Race Two. Ethan Kodjaazliev ended the regatta in 31st place.
There was also a strong result in the Silver Fleet, where Jaime Escudero Carra secured second place in a competitive fleet of 92 sailors.
Also competing in the Silver Fleet were Marko Kuvichkin, who finished 34th, Ben Spiteri Bailey in 62nd place, and Polina Chaplytska in 77th, with all three gaining valuable international experience.
Speaking after the regatta, Sailing School head coach Ruya Cakmakli said the latest campaign reflected the continued progress of the Royal Malta Yacht Club Sailing School programme, with its sailors showing resilience and growing consistency in a variety of conditions.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club congratulated all six sailors for their efforts, while also thanking head coach Ruya Cakmakli, team leader Rachel Ferry and Maurizio Bencic for their work in preparing and supporting the team.
