MORE than 1,200 youngsters will compete at the 2016 RYA Zone and Home Country Championships, up and down the country this weekend.

Seven venues – five English regions and Home Countries Wales and Scotland – will host events around the UK, welcoming sailors who may be competing at a racing event for the very first time as well as experienced racers battling it out for Zone Squad selection and championship titles.

Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Saskia Clark will be on hand at the South and South West event, held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, to offer advice and support as well as showing off her gold medal.

This is the biggest gathering of sailors, with more than 300 entered to race on the London 2012 waters.