MORE than 350 young sailors from across the UK will descend on the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) this weekend for the coveted Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Youth National Championships.

The event will made up of seven boat classes which are Laser Radial Girls, Laser Radial Boys, Laser Standard, 29er, 420, Spitfire and RS:X fleets.

The sailors in all fleets will compete to be crowned 2015 RYA Youth National Champion as well as for selection to squads, key international regattas or simply to gain early season racing practice against their UK rivals.

Among the variety of fleets are a number of local youth competitors hoping to improve their racing skills, gain valuable knowledge and place as well as they can in this high class racing.

Jack Cookson, of Castle Cove Sailing Club (CCSC), sails a Laser Radial and has been recognised as a strong hopeful at the event.

Cookson recently finished second behind Jamie Calder, last year's Laser Radial Youth national champion at the March Laser Qualifier at WPNSA.

As well as chasing the Youth Nationals crown, Cookson is after an all-important qualification spot for the EUROSAF Youth European Championships. He is hoping to use his local knowledge and experience to his advantage.

“I have been doing around 12 hours a week of on the water training in Weymouth Bay so I can be ready for any conditions which arise on the week of the Youth Nationals,” the 17-year-old explained.

“I hope that being on familiar territory the venue will give me an advantage over other competitors, which will put me in a good position for a shot at the title.”

Other local talents in the Laser Radial fleet include James Bishop, Emma Bishop, Alex Mcfarlane who are all from CCSC, Tai Thomas-Day from the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre and Alexandra Stevenson from Weymouth Sailing Club.

CCSC member Sam Barker who for the second year running, will be competing in the Spitfire class to retain the National Champion title which he won last year with Ross McFarlane.

This year, Barker will be sailing with Victoria Akhurst of Netley Sailing Club. In the windsurfing fleet of the event, RS:X sailor Lily Young of the Official Test Centre will be competing for the first time.

For further information, visit the RYA Youth National Championships website.