Four of RYA Champion Club "Warsash S.C.'s" Optimist Flotilla members have grabbed places on merit in the RYA South Zone Development Squad for 2003. Out of all the clubs in the south, only Lymington managed the same number of places, this is a fantastic result.

In addition, Hannah Diamond won a place in the IOCA National squad, so she will be off around Europe representing GBR.

The RYA say "this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your racing skills to a higher level, improve your sailing knowledge and be part of a squad system designed to prepare you to win selection to the National Junior Squad".

The International Optimist Class association (IOCA) is the most competative and representative junior class in the world with 500,000 under 15's competing.

This was the class that brought Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Ainsley and Ian Percy to prominence and grooms the Team GBR of the future, today. The RYA Zone Squads are the foundation level of a pyramid of success.

Warsah sailing Club are hosting an Olympic Indicator event on the weekend of 16th November, and the Optimist Flotilla will be there, training with IOCA National Coach Ollie Green.

WSC sailors selected for the 2003 - RYA South Zone Optimist Squad

Philip Garner (12) David Thomas (11) Michael Clark (11) Rebecca Diamond (11)