National Youth match racing

Top UK talent to descend upon Weymouth this weekend

This weekend will see Great Britain's top match racing talent come head to head at the RYA National Match Racing Final to determine who will win the prestigious title of RYA National Match Racing Champion.

Throughout the year there have been a number of qualifying rounds to establish the line up at this event, which takes place from the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Beneteau First Class Eights.

Sixteen teams, which comprise of some of the best match racers in the country, have made their way through to the final which is bound to see some exciting racing and closely fought matches.

In a format similar to that used at one of the most prestigious yacht racing events, the Americas' Cup, boats will sail a series of round robins which will see teams whittled away until the last two teams are standing. They will then come head to head in the final on Sunday and a new RYA National Match Racing Champion will be crowned.

The pre-race favourite for the event has to be Ian Williams who, having recently returned from the World Match Racing Championships, will be looking for the hat trick at this event.

Competition is set to be tough and with the likes of brothers Mark and Paul Campbell-James, Simon Shaw and recently crowned Volvo RYA National Youth Match Racing Champion Nick Cherry amongst the line up it should be a good battle to see who can come out on top.

RYA Racing Services Manager David Atkinson commented on the line-up, "amongst the sixteen teams that have qualified for this event there is a great number of talented keelboat sailors and it looks like it will be a closely fought final."

Racing gets underway tomorrow (Friday) and continues through until Sunday when the champion will be decided.

The 2003 line up
Alex Cherry: Exeter University
Alex Taylor
Christian Hamilton
Ed Males
Gemma Farrell
Ian Williams
Lizzie Edwards
Mark Campbell-James
Mason Woodworth
Nick Cherry
Paul Campbell-James: Southampton University
Richard Stenhouse: Rutland Sailing Club
Simon Mayne: Island Sailing Club
Simon Shaw
Simon Wheeler
Tom Bowsher