BUOYED by an amazing season of victory after victory, 15-year-old Pippa Wilson of the Royal Lymington YC and new Cadet national champion faces her biggest challenge so far - leading the defence of title holders Great Britain at the Cadet World Championships in Argentina.

True to form, talented Pippa, crewed by 12-year-old Charlie Hatfield, also of Royal Lymington, emerged overall winner when the selection series for the championships reached their climax at Highcliffe SC last weekend.

Reigning champion Sam Carter of Waldringfield SC in Suffolk has since moved on to 420s so hopes of Britain retaining its supremacy will be very much down to Pippa as No 1 of the seven-boat national team.

Joining her at the championships, to be sailed at Buenos Aires on the River Plate at the end of December, will be Parkstone YC pair Simon Lambert and David Brewer, ranked British No 3, and Iain Watson and Ed Thomas, also of Royal Lymington, at No 4.

Crewing Julia Cornah of West Kirby on the Wirrall at No 6 will be Oren Richards, another Royal Lymington youngster.

Highcliffe SC contender Matt Summers also qualified as one of the team at No 5, but decided not to accept the place as he had set his sights on moving on to another class. He crewed for his brother Ben when they won the Cadet Europeans two years ago and took the helm in last year's Worlds in Poland, finishing seventh, and again at this year's Europeans.

Completing the line-up are members of Corinthian Otters SC at Burnham on Crouch.

The final selection was announced at the end of the Highcliffe weekend which attracted some 50 boats. Winds gusting to force 6 put the young sailors through their paces in Christchurch Bay but coming from offshore gave them a comparatively comfortable ride.

Pippa's mother Jenny Wilson, acting captain of juniors at Royal Lymington, said her daughter's confidence had been boosted by her recent national win.

"She was very elated, having had a bad time at this year's Europeans in Czechoslovakia when the wind died, curtailing the racing, and she lost a protest to end up 23rd overall," said Mrs Wilson.

The squad will be put through a special training programme before heading out to Argentina where they will face the strongest competition from the host country and Belgium.