A HAMPSHIRE sailor has won the national final of an eSailing Championship.

Mike O'Donovan, 19, from Stokes Bay Sailing Club in Gosport has sailed his way to the top of the leader board and first place in the national final of the RYA eSailing Spring Class Championship on Saturday June 20.

Battling it out against his fellow racers on the virtual waters, Mike, representing the UK Laser Association fought off tough competition from 18 of the best eSailing class racers from around the country in a series of five races, to take the crown.

Sailing under the sail name of "Déjà vu", Mike ended with a tally of first, second and third, enabling him to discard two races with finishes of fourth and eighth.

Commenting on the win, he said: "It was really tight racing through-out and I’m really happy to win the RYA eSailing Spring Class Championship. I sailed really well through-out the final and was able to get away from the start line into clean air in most of the races – which is really important to get a good start.

"It all came down to the final race where I had to make some strategic decisions. I changed tactics here as I knew that I had to beat just one other sailor in particular to win, so I followed him closely and still ended up taking third in the final race, which I was really pleased with.”

As part of his prize, the 19-year-old will receive a question and answer session for his class with a member of the British Sailing Team.