Aspiring Olympians head to sailing championship

3 hours ago

Julia GregoryPlymouth

The crews held training sessions in Plymouth Sound before the contest started

UK Nacra 15 Class Association Small sailing craft are on the sea off Plymouth. The red, white and blue Union Jack flag is visible on two of the sails. Each of the boats has a brightly coloured sail too, green, pink and blue. The boats appear to have caught some good wind. — The crews held training sessions in Plymouth Sound before the contest started

Dozens of young sailors from across the globe are heading to Plymouth Sound for a world championship.

Hooe Point Sailing Club and Plym Yacht Club have joined forces to host the Nacra 15 World Championship, with 60 15-foot (4.5m) catamarans taking to the water.

The boats are designed for sailors aged 13 to 21 with competitors travelling from across Europe, Australia, the United States, South Africa and China, some of whom are expected to feature in future Olympic Games.

Following and opening ceremony on Monday, four races are scheduled each day from Tuesday until Saturday.

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Event co-director Sam Marshall said spectators would be able to enjoy the races from vantage spots including Jennycliff, Plymouth Hoe, Cawsand and Bovisand.

Marshall added there were plans to sail north and south of the Breakwater weather permitting.

Among the competitors are Devon sailors Eliza Pritchard, 18, from Exmouth and Plymouth's Will Boalch, 19, who are part of the British Youth Sailing Team.

Pritchard said: "You need to have a willingness to learn, so much of it is down to the weather."

Boalch added: "You just have to have a passion for it, a passion for the sea."

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