HAMPSHIRE sailing legends Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston have joined forces to give a youngster a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Today at the PSP Southampton Boat Show they launched a national competition that will see an 18 to 24-year-old learn to sail and race their way across the Pacific Ocean as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The competition will be led by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation which Sir Ben helped found in memory of his friend and Olympic sailing partner Andrew "Bart" Simpson, who died in a yachting accident in the USA while training for the Americas Cup.

It will help young people develop skills to help them succeed in life and to improve access to careers within the maritime sector.

Sir Ben, a four-time Olympic sailing gold medallist from Lymington, said: “It's fantastic news for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and we're grateful to Sir Robin and the team at Clipper Round the World to offer up this fantastic opportunity for one lucky youngster to have an experience of a lifetime.

“You hear stories and anecdotes of people who have done this race but it really is a life changing experience and too good not to take part in such a special race, learn how to sail and meet a whole host of different people.

“I would encourage everybody to take it up and put their applications forward. Whoever does win the spot will benefit massively from it.”

The race, founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first man to ever sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968 to 1969, will see hundreds of amateur sailors pack their bags, say goodbye to their loved ones and battle the elements as they race around the world from next summer.

Portsmouth-based Sir Robin said: “What we're really trying to do is get more young people into sailing, make people realise what a wonderful inclusive sport it is so anything we can do to support that is great.

“We know the beneficial effects of it. It gives them an outside interest which is clean, athletic and competitive - all the things that young people, girls or boys, should be, but above all it's fun.”

Around 400 people have already signed up for a place on the tenth race known for being one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet.

The winner of the competition will get the chance to join them as they spend a month travelling 5,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean, from China to the west coast of the USA in spring 2016.

Anyone aged 18-24 can be nominated for the prize, worth £10,000, before November 14 regardless of previous sailing experience.

A shortlist of five finalists will be announced on December 3. The winner must be available for four weeks of training in Gosport and for the race which will take place in March or April 2016.

To nominate a young person, download an application form at andrewsimpsonfoundation.co.uk/news.

For more information on the Clipper race, visit clipperroundtheworld.com.