ISLE of WIGHT pair Stuart Gummer and Chris Rashley will provide the best chances of home success when Netley sailing Club holds the Spitfire Catamaran European Championships this summer.

The four-day event, which is only in its second year, takes place at Netley from July 29 and showcases the state-of-the-art 16ft asymmetric boat, pictured in action above.

The boat was designed by former Olympic sailing gold medallists Eve Loday and Reg White and is now the fastest growing catamaran sailing class in the UK. Gummer and Rashley are the reigning British champions in the class and last weekend's success in the second round of the 2003 series means they have a 100 per cent record in the current tournament.

There are four Southampton sailors in the top ten in the class in the UK: Grant Piggott, his son Adam, Chris Sproat and Georgina Burke.

Husband and wife team James and Gillian Power and Southampton's Matt Causon, who races with Welshman Daffyd Smith, are also prominent. The two Olympians who designed the boat will also race at Netley.

Sproat said: "The Spitfire will grow into a very large class.

"It's a much more modern boat than some out there.

"It's only got one spinnaker, it's very lightweight, it's easy to handle and it's got quick acceleration.

"It's ideal for mother and daughter type combinations who wish to race together, it's very user-friendly."