In many of the classes racing is really close and it will be a case of all or nothing for many of the sailors that are trying to win their place in the team to compete at the 2003 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Madeira this July.

Racing in the Laser Standard class is unbelievably tight with any of the top three sailors capable of winning the Championship after a two further races tomorrow. Local sailor Stephen Powell from Hayling Island Sailing Club had the edge on his competitors today in the eight knots of breeze that was present, scoring two first places and a sixth, gave him the overall lead. With opponent Giles Scott from Grafham Water Sailing Club winning the last race of the day, the points are tied and the two races tomorrow will decide who will receive the good news of a place in the team. Last years Championship winner Andy Brooks from Elton Sailing Club cannot be ruled out, as he is a strong contender for the team and only one point behind the championship leader.

Powell commented, `I went well today in these conditions and am pleased to be leading the fleet going into the final day. I have been training hard for this event with the help from my brother Mark who won gold at the Youth Worlds in 2001, so it is my goal to go to the event and match my brothers success.`

In the 420 class Callum MacDonald and Haakon Karlsen from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club continue to lead the fleet after scoring a 2,6,4 combination today, they have now pulled out a five point lead over Stuart Bithell and Jonathan McGovern from Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club, but still can't relax as two races could still change the scores dramatically.

MacDonald commented, `We sailed a good day today and maintained our lead over the fleet. We have been training hard for this event and as it is my last chance to go to the Youth Worlds, I am determined to get selected. Tomorrow we will give it our best shot and try and stay out of trouble.`

The race is also on in the 420 girls fleet, Alison Martin and Bethan Carden from Burghfield Sailing Club are in third position overall and top placed girl, however last years Championship winners, Charlotte Savage and Maia Walsh from Barnt Green Sailing Club, are climbing up the charts and with two third places in the last two races of the day are now lying in fourth place overall.

Keir Clarke from Lyme Regis Sailing Club has continued his lead in the 107 boat radial fleet despite scoring a black flag disqualification for starting prematurely in the final race of the day. With a further two races tomorrow, Clarke just has to stay out of trouble and the Championship trophy could be within his grasp.

The girl's fleet is a slightly different story with the two top girls fighting it out all the way to the finish. Charlotte Dobson from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club has just overtaken Colette Blair from Bewl Valley Sailing Club and these two will be giving the selectors a nightmare in trying to decide who the best person is to go to the Youth Worlds.

With light winds, only one race was sailed in the Mistral fleet and despite scoring his worst result of the regatta, a twelfth place, Peter Bird from Largs Sailing Club maintains an eight point lead over Richard Potter from Notts County Sailing Club. Two places separate the girl's fleet with Steph Thompson from Queen Mary Sailing Club leading Laura Bray from Astbury Sailsports by nine points.

Tom Phipps and Jon Cook from Restronguet Sailing Club continue their lead in the Hobie 16 class but the points have closed up with last year's Championship winners, Ben Mansfield and Ben Hinks from the Royal Southern Yacht Club, just one point behind in second place.

Whilst second and third place have switched round in the 29er class, first remains the same with David Evans and Richard Peacock from British Steel Sailing Club extending their lead over the fleet. Host club sailors Tom Smedley and Steven Wilson from Hayling Island Sailing Club have moved up into second place overall with Tristan Jacques and Alain Sign from Stokes Bay Sailing Club in third.

The Championships conclude tomorrow and while six teams will rejoice at the fact that they have realised their dream and made the grade for the Youth Worlds team, many other sailors will also be celebrating the fact that they have won their place in the RYA Youth Squad for the 2003/04 season.

Provisional results

Hobie 16 - 12
1, Tom Phipps/Jon Cook, Restronguet SC (6,(13),(9),4,1,1,1,2,1,4,4,2) 26 pts
2, Ben Mansfield/Ben Hinks, Royal Southern YC (1,2,2,1,4,7,(8),5,2,(13),2,1)
27 pts
3, Ryan Crawford/Lewis Crawford, Penzance SC (4,4,4,(9),(6),6,3,3,4,3,1,3)
35 pts

29er - 29
1, David Evans/Richard Peacock, British Steel SC
(1,1,2,6,5,2,2,3,4,(7),2,1,5,4,(8)) 38 pts
2, Tom Smedley/Steven Wilson, Hayling Island Sailing Club
(3,9,9,3,4,(30),6,1,1,1,(30),9,1,2,2) 51 pts
3, Tristan Jacques/Alain Sign, Stokes Bay SC
(7,6,8,1,(30),1,1,2,2,3,10,(19),7,1,7) 56 pts

Laser Standard - 26
1, Stephen Powell, Hayling Island Sailing Club ((6),(7),3,3,1,2,1,4,5,1,1,6)
27 pts
2, Giles Scott, Grafham Water Sailing Club (2,4,1,6,2,(11),2,(7),2,2,5,1) 27
pts
3, Andy Brooks, Elton SC (3,2,2,2,5,6,(7),2,1,3,2,(8)) 28 pts

Laser Radial Gold fleet
1, Keir Clarke, Lyme Regis SC (1,1,1,4,1,(13),1,1,1,1,3,(55)) 15 pts
2, Paul Cox, Torpoint Mosquito (5,7,5,3,(9),2,2,(26),2,1,26) 55 pts
3, Vincent Christan, Ely SC (2,2,6,8,17,(56),5,10,8,3,(29),2) 63 pts
Girls
6, Charlotte Dobson, Royal Northern & Clyde YC
(7,4,4,10,(27),12,17,4,28,(37),7,10) 103 pts
8, Colette Blair, Bewl Valley SC (6,7,3,10,(12),4,3,3,(48),12,18,44) 110 pts
18, Kellie Covington, Emsworth Slipper SC
(16,13,23,3,16,(28),4,9,(33),21,9,31) 145 pts

420 - 48
1, Callum MacDonald/Haakon Karlsen, Royal Northern and Clyde YC
(1,2,3,(14),6,9,1,(10),2,6,4) 34 pts
2, Stuart Bithell/Jonathan McGovern, Hollingworth Lake SC
(7,(47),5,1,4,5,(9),5,3,8,1) 39 pts
3, Alison Martin/Bethan Carden, Burghfield SC ((10),10,8,2,5,(13),2,1,8,1,7)
44 pts
other girls
4, Charlotte Savage/Maia Walsh, Barnt Green SC
((47),11,11,(18),1,1,7,3,16,3,3) 56 pts
9, Pippa Wilson/Harriette Trumble, Royal Lymington YC
((47),(47),47,20,3,4,3,2,1,2,2) 84 pts

Mistral - 11    
1, Peter Bird, Largs SC (1,1,1,1,1,2,1,(12)) 8 pts
2, Richard Potter, Notts County SC (3,2,2,2,(4),1,2,1) 13 pts
3, Douglas Etheridge, Bray Lake Watersports (2,(12),3,3,2,3,4,2) 19 pts
Girls
6, Steph Thompson, Queen Mary SC ((12),12,12,6,6,6,8,6) 56 pts
8, Laura Bray, Astbury Sailsports ((12),12,12,9,9,12,6,5) 65 pts
9, Jilly Bromley ((12),12,12,APA 9.86,8,8,10,7) 66.86 pts

Source: Sascha Oswald