Maltese sailors make history at Buzios 2023

The pair will become the first-ever sailors to represent Malta in the ILCA 6 class at the Youth Sailing World Championships, a small record for the Mediterranean nation.

Malta’s sole medal at the Youth Worlds dates back to Antonia and Victoria Schultheis’ silver in the girl’s 29er in 2019, the sisters later going on to win 49erFX bronze at the 2021 European Championships.

Competing in their respective ILCA 6 events, Merten and Flores, both 18-years-old, will be the lone representatives from their nation in Brazil and were thrilled to be given such an honour.

“I’m quite nervous but also excited,” said Merten. “It’s cool to be carrying the flag and to be the first ILCA sailors here to represent the country.

“We haven’t told many people that we’re coming here but I think people will be proud supporters at home becuase us Maltese go crazy when supporting.”

Merten grew up sailing on her dad’s boat for fun but only began her competitive career after some encouragement from a friend during a trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

Since taking the leap over five years ago, the teenager has now added several major appearances to her belt, including representing Malta at the European Youth Championship, with a debut at a World Championships the latest to add to the list.

“I was pushed into racing by a good friend of mine,” she added.

“We crossed the Atlantic Ocean together and beforehand she thought we should get into dinghy sailing and in 2019 I started racing competitively at the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

“I grew up on my dad’s boat but the Atlantic was a big change. It was 32 days on a slow and interesting boat but it was a great experience.

“Ever since that I’ve just continued getting better and better and I can’t complain as I now just sail full time.”

Merten is joined in Brazil by teammate and 2023 Malta ILCA 6 Sailor of the Year, Flores.

The teenager admitted that he had a more conventional path into sailing than his counterpart, starting in the Optimist class before graduating through the ranks.

However, the two-time Maltese National champion revealed that the Youth Worlds would be his final farewell to the ILCA 6 before moving up to the ILCA 7 in the new year.

“Representing Malta is always a very nice thing to do.” he said.

“I had a traditional start to sailing. I grew up sailing an Optimist until I got too heavy and had to change.

“When Covid hit, I couldn’t progress as quickly as I wanted to so now I’m in the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 which are my favourite boats so far.

“As soon as this event is over I’m actually moving full-time to ILCA 7 so I want to have a good start here and finish well to say bye.”

Earlier this year, Merten and Flores were selected to represent Malta at the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe.

With the event taking place on home waters, the hosts soared to the top of the medal table with a staggering 38 golds.

For Merten, the experience was a career highlight as the youngster revealed how she was able to put last year’s knee injury behind her to finish fifth overall.

“So far, racing for Malta at the Small Nations is my biggest achievement,” she said.

“It was a home event which was cool and there were six different countries and it was a good vibe.

“My most challenging moment has been recovering from any injury though.

“In Malta we have very windy conditions and I hurt my knee and was out for a few months.

“Getting back into the flow and into the recovery was quite tough but this year I’m back to normal and through injury I learnt how to get out of a rut mentally.”

Flores finished seventh in the men’s ILCA 6 at the Small States and also cited it as a memory to last a lifetime.

And with plenty of international experience now behind him, the teenager believes that a busy 2023 of racing has set him up perfectly to graduate to the ILCA 7.

“My first Europeans was my hardest moment,” he said.

“Going from a fleet of 10 boats to 250 I felt very out of place and it was challenging.

“It wasn’t until I started doing more international regattas and getting used to it that it stopped feeling as hard.

“Now I’m more experienced, which will be important when competing against the very best in the ILCA 7 next year.”

As two rising stars and history-makers, Merten and Flores are paving the way for the newest fleet of Maltese sailors to come through the ranks.

And as they set sail on the water in Brazil, the pair revealed their key pieces of advice to those back home watching them compete.

“My advice would be to never give up because you can achieve anything,” said Flores.

Merten added: “It always gets better, I mean look where we are now, half way across the world and sailing at Youth Worlds.”