Noah (13) and myself (15) are keen dinghy sailors who currently spend 3 sessions a week training or racing and one session of a week as voluntary coaches coaching younger cadets who are being introduced to sailing. We are lucky enough to be members of and supported by the expertise of Lyme Regis Sailing Club.

We race an RS Feva ; myself at the helm and Noah as crew. We are both very excited and proud that, following having just come 3rd at the RS Feva National Championships and also 3rd at the latest GP, we have the opportunity to attend the World Championships at Follonica in Italy later this summer.

Due to the costs involved in travelling to an event like this, it was not something that we thought we would be able to do, but our performance in the Nationals means that we really do have a chance and we should try and make it happen.

We have started to look at the costs of not only finding accommodation but also towing our boat to Follonica (1800km each way!). We have found a camp site close to the race area and have persuaded my Dad that he would like a good drive!

The costs are quite substantial:

Event Entry: €550

Ferry: £660 (this is cheaper than the tunnel)

Fuel: £300 + tolls (Ed’s Dad has volunteered to drive us both and the boat the 24 hour drive each way)

Campsite in Follonica: €450

We also need to stop overnight on the way down and back

..and this is just to be there (and before all the pizza we will eat is taken in to account!)

Our school has supported us by allowing us time out of school for training and we are hoping that family, friends and local businesses may be able to help make this opportunity possible by sponsoring us. Any amount would be very much appreciated, and we would be happy to display company stickers on the boat and sails. If we have any surplus we would really like a new spinnaker as ours is old!