Byte Youth Trials at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy

Colette Blair wins her right to represent Great Britain in the Byte Class at the 2002 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships

Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy played host this weekend (20-21 April) to the female single-handed trials for a place to represent Great Britain at the 2002 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, to be held in Canada this July. The Laser Radial will not be the ISAF boat of choice at this years Youth Worlds, but instead one of Canada's leading single-handed classes, the Byte.

The top six female Laser Radial sailors from this years Volvo RYA National Youth Championships and Trials held in Weymouth earlier this month, were again asked to race for a place to represent Great Britain at the Youth Worlds. The trials were held in the Byte, which has a lower optimum weight than the Laser Radial. The six sailors were joined by three Byte Class Association and one Topper Squad sailor.

The ten sailors had perfect conditions in Weymouth Harbour with the wind varying between 7 -14 knots over the weekend. It was Colette Blair (16, Bewl Valley) who won in commanding style, with an impressive scoreline of four first and two second places in the six race series.

Bronze medallist at last years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, Natalie Lloyd finished fourth. Natalie's weight is much more suited to the heavier Laser Radial and will now turn her attentions to the Olympic Europe Class in preparation for either the 2004 or 2008 Olympic Games.

In case of a close fought battle, two Selectors were on hand, Maxine Webb and Olympic and Volvo Ocean Race Sailor, Stuart Childerley who has just returned to the UK from Baltimore after helping Team News Corp secure their first leg win in the current Volvo Ocean Race. Stuart will be the RYA youth single-handed selector for the next two years. Colette Blairs' convincing win meant the selectors decision was an easy one.

RYA Youth Manager, Steve Joel was on hand all weekend to watch proceedings and was very happy at the outcome of the event, "conditions were quite similar to those expected this summer in Canada. I was particularly impressed with the strong competition, competitiveness, attitude and focus shown by all the girls this weekend," said Joel, who added, "we have a very strong medal contender in Colette this summer"

Another factor that impressed Joel this weekend was the team spirit shown "there was such good comradeship between the sailors, when Colette goes to the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships this summer, I am sure all the girls competing at Weymouth this weekend will be willing her on to win."

Mark Littlejohn, who coached Shirley Robertson to victory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has been appointed as the single-handed coach for this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships as well as head coach. His focus will be firmly on Colette Blair and Andy Brooks (who won the Laser Standard rig trials earlier this month) in the hope of emulating Mark Powell and Natalie Lloyds success at last years event when they helped Team GBR finish third overall nation in the Volvo Cup with their individual Gold and Bronze medals.

Overall Results: (6 races, 1 discard)