In the wake of the announcement last month of the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme - a platform through which Hampshire youngsters can develop their sailing skills - places to compete in key high profile events have this week been made available to young hopefuls.

Nick Hewson, owner of the Farr 52 Team Tonic, has formed a partnership with Volvo to give two young sailors from the Keelboat Programme the opportunity of a lifetime to compete onboard during the 2003 season.

Renamed 'Volvo For Life - Team Tonic' the key events on the calendar for the lucky sailors include the Admirals Cup, Rolex Fastnet Race, Round the Island Race and Skandia Cowes Week.

Those selected at each of the three trial weekends will be given the chance to try out for their place onboard Volvo For Life - Team Tonic during the Warsash Spring Series starting next Sunday (March 16).

Nick Hewson, along with his championship-winning team including Jeremy Robinson, Craig Nutter and Simon Clarke and RYA Racing Services manager, Dave Atkinson, will assess their qualities.

Once chosen, the winning pair will be required to commit to the year round programme, which will include a series of RORC offshore races to gain their personal qualifying miles for the Rolex Fastnet Race.

By applying the proven youth and Olympic training models, all sailors selected for the Volvo RYA Keelboat programme will also be provided with training, coaching and mentoring. It is hoped that they will in turn be pivotal to future British keelboat projects.

Sailors between the ages of 16-24 can be selected for the Volvo RYA Keelboat Team from a number of avenues: New RYA keelboat weekends, to be run around the UK, Recommendations to RYA by other organisations, talent scouts and HighPerformance Managers and the National and Youth Match Racing Circuit.

The first Volvo RYA Keelboat selection took place at Rutland Water Sailing Club in the RYA's fleet of Beneteau First Class Eights.

Seventeen sailors attended the three-day training event and trialed out under the watchful eye of world-renowned coach Jim Saltonstall.

The programme attracted a high calibre of sailors and the next opportunity for selection will take place at Rutland Water Sailing Club from April 23-25.

For further information on how to get involved with the programme contact: http://www.rya.org.uk/Racing/Keelboats/