Tom makes North Wales squad thanks to new boat

Aberystwyth sailor helped by John Merricks Sailing Trust © RYA Cymru-Wales

Aberystwyth sailor helped by John Merricks Sailing Trust © RYA Cymru-Wales

Aberystwyth sailor Tom Backshall has just joined the North Wales regional squad thanks to the award of a new boat to reward his enthusiasm for the sport.

Tom was one of two award winners from Wales who was donated a boat by the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) for his talent and commitment, being selected out of more than 100 applications. The boat will be passed on to his Clywedog club when he grows out of it.

Having received the boat earlier this year, Backshall has spent 2014 trying to build on that early progress and fulfill the promise which earned the reward. The award has fired his ambitions to go on and make the Wales squads as he gets older with the long term ambition of becoming a professional sailor.

"The sailing boat that I got from the John Merricks Sailing Trust has helped me a lot because it is a proper racing boat and I can now race against all the other racing Optimists," he said.

"This year I have sailed in lots of events. I have sailed in the CYRC series at Abersoch, Llyn Brenig, Llyn Clywedog and Aberdyfi. I came 3rd overall. I also sailed at the OnBoard Regatta in Bala, The Welsh Optimist Championships in Cardiff and The Welsh Zone Championships.

"I sail at my club, Clywedog Sailing club, as much as possible. I have now been selected for the North Wales regional Optimist squad. I'm very excited!

"I think the John Merricks Sailing Trust inspires people to sail, for me it is like having a dream come true. I hope one day that I can become a professional sailor."

Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged 8 to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres.

Over a ten year period OnBoard has introduced over 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants.

JMST seeks to help young sailors and youth sailing organisations to achieve their goals and was set up in the memory of leading Olympic sailor and 1996 Olympic silver medallist John Merricks.

Ian Walker, John's former sailing partner, JMST Trustee, double Olympic silver medallist and skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, commented, "John Merricks did not come from a sailing family and learnt to sail at school. He was a fantastic sailor, but was as well known for his sense of fun as he was for his natural talent. Many people helped John on his way to achieving his Olympic Silver medal and the Trust set up in his name aims to support youth sailing at a grass roots level, hoping to encourage young sailors like these to follow in his footsteps."

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA's website www.rya.org.uk or the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk

For more information about the JMST visit www.jmst.org.uk