Katrina Micallef and Tomek Vaccaro claim ILCA 6 podium finishes in Shanghai

Royal Malta Yacht Club sailors Katrina Micallef (MLT) and Tomek Vaccaro (MDA) delivered standout performances at the 2026 Shanghai Cup this past weekend, both claiming third-place finishes in the ILCA 6 class.

Now in its third year, the Shanghai Cup is an international invitational event established to promote sailing in the Shanghai region, bringing together top sailors from different continents alongside leading Chinese athletes.

Invitations are issued on the basis of athletes’ CVs, with the 2026 entry list including Poland’s seven-time ILCA 6 World Champion Marcin Rudawski, Mozambique’s two-time Olympian Deizy Nhaquile, Britain’s current ILCA 6 men’s No. 1 and 2023 World Championship bronze medallist Jonathan Emmett, and four-time Canadian national champion Victoria Coady.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club has been represented since the first edition, with Lara Merten attending in 2024 and Tomek Vaccaro in 2025. This year, Vaccaro was joined by Katrina Micallef.

In a short space of time, the Shanghai Cup has built a strong reputation for the standard of its organisation, demonstrated by an opening ceremony featuring a live orchestra, a sailing boat parade and a drone show projecting country names across the night sky.

Racing takes place in the heart of Shanghai on a purpose-built circular lake, ringed by skyscrapers — creating a “stadium-style” atmosphere rarely seen in the sport.

Conditions throughout the regatta were predominantly light to medium. Vaccaro made a strong start and was leading after Day 2, but penalties — including a U-flag disqualification and a yellow flag — affected his overall standing, leaving him in the bronze-medal position.

Micallef faced a more challenging opening, working to break into the top 10. In the final stages of the regatta she delivered a strong performance, including a race win, to climb to 8th overall and secure the bronze medal in the women’s fleet.

The event continues to offer our athletes a valuable and distinctive experience in a high-level international competitive environment.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club extended it’s gratitude to the organisaers of the Shanghai Cup organisers for their continued support and for once again inviting our sailors to compete.

Photo Credit of Opening Ceremony: Ti Gong