Victoria Schultheis, competing for Malta and representing the Royal Malta Yacht Club, was crowned world champion in the Moth Class last weekend.
This achievement comes remarkably just a few months after she started racing in this high-performance foiling dinghy, renowned for its speed, innovation, and hydrofoiling capabilities.
The Moth World Championship, held in Malcesine on Lake Garda and hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine, brought together 137 of the world’s best sailors.
Schultheis secured the top spot ahead of the reigning world champion Hattie Rogers, of Britain, and Germany’s Lisa Schweigert.
The championship, which concluded on Sunday, was marked by several days of unstable weather, prompting early starts to take advantage of the northerly breeze – ideal conditions that allowed for the completion of the final two qualifying races before the fleet was split into Gold and Silver divisions.
In addition to being crowned the top-ranked female sailor, Schultheis finished 39th overall, competing against a field of Olympians and world-class sailors.
This success follows her recent win at Foiling Week Malcesine, also held on Lake Garda.
Speaking after her victory, Schultheis said: “I’ve just won the Women’s World Championship and I feel fantastic. I want to thank everyone who helped me throughout the week.
“The whole fleet was incredibly kind and supportive over the last few months. A special thank-you to Hattie Roger, she inspired me to get into the Moth class after I saw her racing in New Zealand.”
This marks Schultheis’ second World Championship title, having previously won the Optimist World Championship in 2016.
With the next Moth Worlds still over a year away, Schultheis is focused on balancing her studies with sailing the Switch class, which is rapidly gaining popularity among top sailors. Her upcoming semester abroad in Sydney promises new opportunities both academically and on the water, as she continues to build her skills and experience in this dynamic one-design class.
Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore Mark Napier expressed his delight at such a result. “Victoria’s achievement is a proud moment for both the club and Maltese sailing. Her dedication, talent, and determination are a great example to aspiring sailors, and we look forward to seeing her continue to excel both on and off the water.”
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