WHILE Weymouth's windsurfers took gold at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, 150 young sailors descended on Portland to join some of Britain's top Olympic athletes.

The medal day races saw the top international sailors battle it out on the water, while fellow Olympic-class sailing stars Ben Ainslie, Ian Percy and Sarah Ayton of Wyke Regis greeted Britain's young talent on dry land.

The day was intended to offer a unique insight into the Olympic classes programme for the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) youth and junior squad members with gold medallists lined up to answer questions and impart their personal experiences of moving through the pathway.

It also aimed to show how the RYA system works, and to identify talent moving into Olympic class sailing.

With the day based around the exciting medal races, it provided a great opportunity for the young hopefuls to get a real close-up taste of the Olympic dream.

The event at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy saw fierce competition on the water with 16 different countries taking part.

Some, such as Sweden, used the international regatta as part of their Olympic selection process - upping the stakes for their sailors.

The British team, many of which have already been selected to represent Team GBR at the Beijing Olympics next year, dominated proceeding on the final day's racing.

In the RS:X Women's windsurfing, Bryony Shaw of Wyke Regis achieved gold after a close fight for the top spot throughout the week with Spain's Blanca Manchon - her nearest rival. Nick Dempsey of Wyke Regis claimed gold after a commanding lead of the RS:X Men's fleet in the medal race.

There was disappointment for world number one Laser sailor Paul Goodison of Wyke Regis, who was pipped to the post by his Olympic training partner Nick Thompson.

In the 470 Women's dinghy event, Goodison's partner Saskia Clark and teammate Christina Bassadone achieved gold overall despite a bad start in the final race.

The Laser Radial medal race was one of the closest of the day, with a tussle between Portland sailor Laura Baldwin, Penny Clark and Lizzie Vickers who started the day with just two points separating the trio. But it was Baldwin and Clark who matched race all the way round the track, with Clark the eventual victor.