For the third time running, the Volvo RYA South Zone Championships were held at Lee-on-the Solent sailing Club and this year there was a record 300 young sailors afloat for the two-day event on 6th and 7th July 2002.

The South Zone area covers a triangle from Oxford down to Poole and across to Chichester and the registration team were kept busy first thing on Saturday processing 83 late entries who had turned up on the day.

But everyone was rigged and launched in good time. Initially there was a distinct lack of wind, which swung through 180 degrees, causing a postponement until midday.

Then all classes managed to get away in a light, fickle breeze with only the Dragoons and 29ers abandoned.

As competitors came ashore for lunch after two races, the sea breeze had started to build.

The remaining two races went ahead unhindered in a steady Force 4 and were completed by 5.30pm - a long but satisfying day's sailing and for some their first taste of racing away from the home club.

On Sunday Club Commodore Graham Child and his team had fears that conditions at around 20 knots were too heavy for the youngsters but the breeze dropped for a couple of hours for the final two races before increasing again in the afternoon, by which time everyone was safely ashore waiting for the prizegiving.

Two members of the RYA Team GBR presented the prizes: Mark Asquith from Lee-on-the-Solent who recently gained a bronze medal in the 49er World Championships and Leigh MacMillan, from the Isle of Wight, a Tornado sailor.

Lee was keen to encourage some of the 15 to 16 year olds into catamaran classes saying they would definitely be the fastest boat on the water but just might be the least under control too! The Optimist class proved the most popular with 63 entries.

Chris Sanders took first place by 4 points from George Minors, both from Lymington, with Hannah Diamond from Warsash SC third.

In the 54 strong Topper class, Stuart Adams from Burghfield near Reading was the clear winner with six straight wins, followed by Nigel Dakin from Stokes Bay SC and local hero Tristan Jaques from Lee-on-the Solent SC.

Multihull entries were accepted from all nine RYA zones, giving the sailors national competition at a sea venue.

It was well worth the journey for two teams from Restronguet Sailing Club in Cornwall who won both the Dragoon and Hobie 16 classes.

The top two UK 29er teams were out for their last competition before departing for Canada next week and the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships.

Pippa Wilson and Jenny Marks from Royal Lymington YC beat team mates Jonny Marshall and Tom Smedley by 3 points.

Pippa and Jenny have only been sailing together in this class for a matter of months and in accepting her prize, Pippa thanked the South Zone High Performance Manager Simon Wergan, who had undertaken much of their coaching since Christmas, enabling them to reach such a high standard in such a short time.

Several accolades were presented for endeavour.

These included Ben Clifford from Lymington who 18 months ago had started sailing a somewhat elderly Laser Radial but since then had lost no opportunity to be out on the water honing his skills, showing what could be done with perseverance.

Ben took third place in the 24 strong fleet and is now a possible candidate for the Volvo RYA Transitional Youth Squad.

Royal Lymington Yacht Club came out on top as the club bringing the most entrants and Burghfield Sailing Club the Volvo RYA Champion Club with the most top three finishers.

Burghfield won a free holiday presented by Sunsail, to be used to raise funds within the club to benefit their youth and junior sailing schemes.