RYA selects ITCA (GBR) National Youth Squad

This year for the first time selection for the Topper National Youth Squads was by the same RYA selection panel as the RYA Topper National Junior and National Junior Intermediate Squads including Dave Cockeril RYA Class Head Coach and Kirsty Bonar RYA Youth and Junior Singlehanded Pathway Manager.

Congratulations to Scottish Topper stalwarts Samantha Foster and Rosalind Dunlop who have both received invitations to join the 2010/11 ITCA GBR National Youth Squad. This an excellent opportunity to train alongside top youth sailors from across the UK at venues including Pwllheli in Wales and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the 2010 Olympic games venue where the squad will stay in the new Olympic accommodation.

For Samantha this is the second year she has qualified for the squad in which she was the youngest member last year. She reports "Although it is a very long way to travel the squad did make a real difference to my sailing last year and gave me a big boost in confidence which is vital to compete at the highest level".

For Rosalind this is the first time she has qualified for a national squad and recognizes a steady progression through the Topper rankings this year especially in the UK Nationwide events.

Both girls are currently combining their Topper sailing with preparations for transition into the Laser Radial dinghy which is a youth class for boys but is also the full Olympic class for the girls. They have also been seen training together in a 420 at Largs this summer so they are clearly intent on broadening their experience or perhaps they are just keeping the opposition guessing!

G.