Local helm Danielle Rowe from Pembroke Dock (Neyland Yacht Club) and crew Rachel Tilley (Llandegfed Sailing Club) from Monmouth have been crowned Welsh Youth Champions at a recent event in Pwllhelli, North Wales.

Following on from their respective successes in the RYA junior sailing classes, both youngsters are now making a big impact on the youth sailing scene, the event in Pwllhelli held over the weekend of April 22 and 23 saw over 140 competitors travel to a very snowy North Wales to compete in the Welsh Yachting Association Youth Sailing Championships.

With enough Welsh sailors now competing in the 29er class, this was the first time that Welsh Yachting Association had decided to provide the class its own one design fleet, which made for some great racing on an extended inner loop course.

Over the duration of the two days of competition, the fight for the title could have gone to almost anyone. After day one it was Josh and Jake Davies from Pwllhelli who carried the lead overnight, with Rowe and Tilley sitting in the number six spot.

Sunday brought slightly lighter winds with a very shifty 12 knots which brought on a great performance from the girls getting a first and second in the first two races, leaving it all to sail for in the final race of the weekend with any one of four boats able to take the title.

And it was the girls again who found another race win to jump to the podium leading position and take the first ever 29er Welsh Youth Crown.

Danielle Rowe commented: "It was a great two days of racing with variable conditions and some close competitive racing and we are really pleased to have got the win.

"This win gives us some real encouragement as we head out to the European and World Championships in Poland and Germany in the summer."