The Royal Lymington Yacht Club has turned out three young champions this week.

Richard Mason, Greg Carey and Robert Claridge swept the board at the prestigious Volvo Musto Optimist Inland Championships at Grafham Water sailing Club.

They beat 265 other youngsters in this yardstick for early sailing talent.

Richard Mason, 15, son of Chris - one of the key crew members on the GBR Challenge America's Cup team last winter, is following in his dad's footsteps by paving the way to glory.

When asked of his ultimate goal in sailing, Richard instantly replied: "The Olympics."

His father is obviously a leading light for the keen talent and the young Mason, above, has certainly formulated his ideas early on.

Richard, who came first at the weekend's event, has already secured his place representing Britain at the Optimist World Championships which take place in Gran Canaria this July.

Fellow Lymington sailors Greg Carey and Robert Claridge, both 14, were second and third respectively. They will also be going to the Spanish island for the regatta.

Conditions at Grafham were rigorous and a gusty force four to five wind tested the sailors in the six-race series.

Junior and senior sailors all raced together in one fleet divided into two flights completing trapezoid courses. The more experienced and larger senior sailors fared better than the junior sailors in the strong breezes.

For Mason and Carey, his friend from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, the battle for valuable places was down to the last race.

Greg, on his course, scored three bullets on Saturday while Richard clocked up a 1,2,12, hoping the latter would be his discard.

On the second day mere seconds divided first and second with Richard claiming two wins.

It was tough competition as he beat Carey by just one point overall.

The winner of the Championship and an aspiring Olympian, Mason began his sailing life very early.

His mother, Carole, said: "When Richard was tiny we thought it would be nice for him to sail but not through pushing him into it.

"Walking round a little sailing club with him in his pushchair one day, he was watching what was going on and asked: 'When can I have a boat?'

Friends lent them an ancient Optimist and the young Mason went down to the Salterns, the old salt pan in Lymington run by teenage members.

"It is a good spot where parents get in the water in waders and pull them along and the youngsters can learn sailing," Mrs Mason added.

Richard sails most weekends and occasionally after school down at the club where there is good competition with around 20 other sailors.

His father coached a squad of Optimists throughout the winter and training will take place during the forthcoming half-term for the World and European entrants.

His advice to any aspiring young sailors? "Go and find your local club and get out on the water."

The Volvo Musto Inland Championships was one of three ranking events to select the national and intermediate squad for 2004.

The next two regattas include the Volvo Musto Optimist National Championships and the Volvo Musto Optimist End-of-Season Championships.

Overall results

1 Richard Mason (Royal Lymington), 2 Greg Carey (RL), 3 Robert Claridge (RL), 4 Hannah Mills (Corus SC), 5 Ben Saxton (Grafham Water SC), 6 James Murdock (Bowmoor SC), 7 Andrew Conn (Derwent Reservoir), 8 Tim Saxton (Grafham W SC), 9 William Atkinson (Royal St Georges (IRL), 10 Claire Lasko (Bowmoor SC, 2nd girl).