The NatWest Island Games sailing team, from left, Brad McLaughlin, Markus Bettum, reserve Adam Coventry, Harry Blowers. The fourth team member, George Downer, is pictured left.
SAILING FOUR young sailors have been selected to represent the IW at this summer’s NatWest Island Games in Bermuda.
The selection process involved a series of races, coaching weekends and physical training and was organised by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club at Fishbourne.
George Downer and Harry Blowers will sail the laser full rig and Brad McLaughlin and Markus Bettum will sail the laser radial.
George, 18, of Ryde, is taking his A-levels this year at Ryde School and sails at both Bembridge and Royal Victoria yacht clubs. Gurnard Sailing Club member Harry is just 16 years old, while Brad, 17, of Newport, words in the boat maintenance and charter business, doing his sailing for Royal Victoria.
Markus, of Cowes, is the youngest of the squad at the tender age of 15 and sails at Gurnard.
Adam Coventry has been named reserve for the team. The Cowes Enterprise student, 16, sails for Royal Victoria and for Gurnard.
The qualification series culminated on Sunday with the Deep Freeze trophy, where ten sailors faced biting Easterly winds, gusting to 20 knots.
Six short races were run by race officer Nigel Talbot, assisted by Island Games sailing manager Steve Sheridan and Fred Warren-Smith.
Brad McLaughlin is pictured receiving the Deep Freeze trophy from RVYC vice-commodore Tony Pope and Steve Sheridan.
Harry Blowers took second place and Dominic Mortimer was third.
The sailors were due to travel to Stokes Bay at the weekend to compete in the first Laser qualifier of the season against some of the country’s finest.