Hatty crowned Welsh Sailing Youth Champion

Hatty Morsley (left) sailing with partner Pippa Cropley at the Youth Sailing World Championships in China © Tomas Moya / Sailing Energy / World Sailing

Youth World Championships sailor Hatty Morsley has been crowned as the RYA regional youth champion for Wales. The North Wales 18-year-old has made the change to senior level in the 470 class of boat and hopes to follow in the wake of Welsh Olympic gold medal winner Hannah Mills and is even sailing one of her old boats.

Each of the regional and home country winners will receive a trophy at the official awards presentation taking place on Sunday 04 March at the RYA Dinghy Show 2018. The awards will be presented by 49er World Champion and Rio Olympian Dylan Fletcher.

"It is really nice to get the recognition, especially as I did not expect it," explained Port Dinorwic sailor Morsley. "It will be great to go to the Southampton Boat Show, a lot of people I know are going down there.

"I have A Levels this summer and then I plan to take a gap year to do some Olympic sailing, obviously Hannah Mills is a pretty big inspiration.

"I have been coached by her before, now I am using one of her old boats, so following in her footsteps is certainly my plan.

"It does offer encouragement that I have come through the same Welsh sailing squads, had the same coaches as she did and they have all said that if Hannah has achieved something then so can I."

Created in 2014, the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards recognise the outstanding achievement and performance of young people across the range of activities the RYA represents, including sailing, windsurfing and powerboating.

"Probably the biggest highlight of the year was coming second in the Junior Europeans. We did not expect that when we went into the final race in fifth place and then ended up coming second.

"It was also great going to China for the World Youth Championships in my final year at that age group, which turned out to be a great experience.

"I had never really done anything like that, just going through the security checks and how strict everything was made it very different.

"We could see the racing from our hotel, one of the markers was just outside our window, so it was really cool.

"You normally know people when you look round at an event, so it was strange being the only GBR team there and sailing against the best in every country."

Morsley has A Levels in Physics, Biology and English before concentrating on sailing after that, with the Junior Europeans in Portugal as her main sailing focus this summer.

RYA Director of Sport Development Alistair Dickson said: "We're delighted to recognize the achievements of these sailors who have all shown lots of hard work, sacrifice and determination to the sport.

"The Awards also help to emphasize the endless support of our many volunteers who work so hard at the club level to give our sailors the best possibly start to their future sailing careers."

For more information on the RYA Regional Youth Champion Award visit www.rya.org.uk/go/youthchampion For further details about Welsh sailing and watersports, please go to www.rya.org.uk/rya-regions/rya-cymru-wales or www.facebook.com/RYACymruWales or follow on Twitter @RYACymruWales. You can also keep up to date by following RYA Cymru Wales on Instagram - www.instagram.com/rya_cymru_wales