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PETER VALENTINO interviews the new President of the Malta SailingFederation, MICHAEL MIFSUD, on the changes he intends bringing to the federation itself and sailing in Malta.
It seems that my previous article about the Malta Sailing Federation instigated change. Today, I can announce that the sport of sailing in Malta has a new person as president of our national authority and that a few members now have different positions within.
But before setting off with our questions, I’d like to thank the previous president and committee members for the years of service they gave our sport.
Michael, what was your first experience insailing and how did you get to love the sea andthe sport?
My first sailing experience happened at the age of 18 and I was the postman of the Vikings Sailing Club. Charlie Vella invited me to join the club and I loved it from the first instant. Chris Poulton, then still a teenager, showed me the ropes and I have no regrets. I spent my first sailing years pottering around in a club mirror dinghy and occasionally crewing for John Bernard and Ernest German. I bought my first keel boat (Volos) in 2002 and have been sailing in keelboats ever since. I have raced in the Vikings regattas both in dinghies and keelboats and have formed part of the finish line crew of the Rolex Middle Sea Race as a volunteer for the past 15 years, except for some years when I formed part of the crew onboard competing boats. For the last 10 years, I have been a sailing dad, supporting my two children in their sport and volunteering in their clubs and associations.
Why did you seek election to become president?
I have been involved in the sailing club administration for a very long time, initially as a sub-committee member of the Vikings Sailing Club, later becoming honorary secretary of the Malta Cruising Club. I also served as a committee member of the Malta Optimist Dinghy Association and currently am sailing secretary of the Malta Laser Class Association. I felt that I loved the sport enough to offer myself to give more to this sport. I am a parent of two very active sailors and sailing is an important part of our family life, if we are not discussing regattas or the next training session, we are planning our next sailing holiday. I believe that my style, that of listening and involving all stakeholders, should benefit all sailors, the sport and the Federation.
What have your first tasks been?
Learning the ropes, getting the cooperation of all involved and listening to the clubs and associations that form part of the Federation. One of the first tasks was the organisation of the National Dinghy Championships with hosting club MYSC. Another task was the submission of a bid by the Malta Sailing Federation to World Sailing to host the Olympic Single-Handed boat trials in Malta which, unfortunately, was unsuccessful but from which we have learnt a lot. In the first few months we received two new club/ association applications and a reactivation of the FS Feva Association. We have also nominated various sailors and officials for national recognition.
Three of our nominees have been recognised: Mr. Jovin Rausi for his past involvement in sailing has been listed in the Hall of Fame of the Malta Olympic Committee; Richard Schultheis has been awarded a certificate in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding sporting achievements, while also being a finalist in the National Sportsman Award in the SportMalta National Sports awards; and Saul Vassallo, runner-up in the Young Sportsman of the Year award. A very important step that the Federation has taken was to start preparing for a National Rescue Boat Operator certification. Spearheaded by David Dalli (BSC) and Richard Gabriele (VSC), this certification will allow for the certification of safety boat operators after the attendance and examination in an MSFendorsed establishment.
Malta last competed in the Olympic Games in 2004. You took over a committee that did not push for Malta to participate in the Games. This exasperated certain sailors. They felt let down. Will you rekindle a national team with a vision of eventually qualifying to participate in the Olympic Games?
I do not know if that was a decision of a previous committee or just a circumstance that happened during the term of the previous committee, however my committee is committed to ensure that sailing is at the top of the local sports agenda. We already are campaigning in the international circuit to continue producing top sailors. However, more effort is needed to spruce up our Olympic classes. This committee believes in the talents and commitment of the local sailors and will work towards having local sailors participating in the international circuit, hopefully leading towards Olympic participation.
You’ve taken over at a time when World Sailing, formerly more eloquently known as the International Sailing Federation, scrapped a few Olympic classes. Several presidents of national authorities worldwide took a ferocious stand against this. What’s your opinion? The classes that have been axed to date are not ones that sailed locally so I have a neutral stand on those classes however I am very concerned over the challenges being faced by the Laser dinghy for events after 2024. The laser is a very popular boat locally and the prices of used boats make this affordable to young sailors progressing from the optimist class and youths that want to start sailing. On the other hand, progress and technology have brought about new single-handed dinghies that are a step forward from the laser and could bring renewed interest in single-handed dinghy sailing. However, this development can only be acceptable to us as a small federation if substantial incentives are devised by World Sailing for the introduction of a new class.
… my committee is committed towards sailing being at the top of the local sports agenda
Will sailing be included in the next Games of the Small States? If so, how are our sailors being selected and what training are they receiving? What classes will race?
Until now it is most probable that sailing will be included in the next Games of the Small States of Europe as these are expected to be held in Malta in 2023. Our sailors are being ranked according to their performances in the local ranking regatta calendar and the top-ranked sailors will be selected for the national team both for the GSSE and other preparatory regattas the Federation will earmark for the top sailors. All classes being sailed and raced in Malta will be considered for the GSSE but predominantly this will be based on the Optimist and Laser fleets as they are the most constant participants in the MSF ranking calendar.
What would you rather a gold medal in the Games of the Small States or a 10th place in the Laser Class World Championships for instance?
I do not have a preference, I would like to have them both, along with a respectable showing in the Olympics, but it is still a long way ahead.
Do you have a message to convey to the sailors?
Yes, I would like to thank all sailors and officials for welcoming me in their clubs. I would also like them to approach me if they have ideas and thoughts of how we can make the sport better and more inclusive. I would also like to tell the young sailors to train and participate with vigour in all available regattas so that when the opportunity to represent Malta arises, they will make us proud.
To conclude, sailing is a very broad sport, with classes ranging from the Dragon Force sailed by the Model Boat Association, to the Maxis that participate in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. I want everyone to feel a part of the Sailing Fraternity, to participate and contribute towards the sport and make it more popular than it currently is. I would like the Federation to give more attention to recreational sailors, the sailors that take up sailing in adulthood for fun not for competition and be more inclusive towards these sailors. On a final note, I would like to thank Federation Secretary Chris Bajada and all the other council members for their work in the Federation and my family for their support.
