WEYMOUTH and Portland will see a record fleet of RS:X sailors descend on the National Sailing Academy to battle it out for the title of youth national champion.

The event will see 29 boys and girls under the age of 21 including the UK’s top windsurfing talent will hit Dorset’s waters tomorrow for three days of tight competition.

The main RYA Youth National Championships was held in Largs, Scotland, over the first week of April but due to a clash in its schedule the RS:X class was given its own event.

Nevertheless, the stakes remain the same – up for grabs is not only the youth national champion title but places in the British Youth Sailing summer squad plus grants for international events this summer.

One boy and one girl will also be chosen to represent Great Britain at the Youth World Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, from July 14-22.

Among those looking to impress will be a raft of current British Youth Sailing squad members who recently returned from the prestigious Princess Sofia Trophy regatta in Palma, Mallorca.

Tim Hall, the RS:X Youth Nationals event director said: “Thanks to the hard work of the UK RS:X class, this year’s RS:X Youth Nationals will see a record number of sailors compete for the coveted title of youth national champion.

“It’s set to be a real celebration of youth windsurfing in the UK with RYA staff, volunteers, coaches and selectors all on hand to help run a world class event.

“An Easter camp for Techno windsurfers will be taking place at the same time as the RS:X Youth Nationals so expect to see a huge fleet of junior and youth sailors on the water this weekend.”