In excess of 240 young sailors from approximately 48 nations, will be competing today at Crozon-Morgat, near Brest for the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

The Championship, running until July 10, is the most prestigious on the international youth sailing calendar, often dubbed ‘the youth Olympics’ and attracts the world’s very best sailors and will provide an exciting regatta for the competitors and the many visitors to Crozon-Morgat.

Past Youth World’s winners include Sydney Gold medallist Ben Ainslie and 1997/1998 Whitbread Round the World Race (now Volvo Ocean Race) winning skipper and America’s Cup skipper, Paul Cayard.

Each country may submit one entry in four classes: Lasers (male and female, single-handed dinghy); 420 (male and female, double-handed dinghy); Hobie 16 (open entry multihull) and Mistral (male and female windsurfing).

Sailors compete for the individual honour of becoming World Youth Champion in their class – and for National Team honour by securing the Volvo Trophy (formerly the Nautica Cup) which for the last four years has been won by France. The host nation will again be tough to beat, especially sailing on home waters.

“It will be an honour to welcome these talented young sportsmen and women to France” said Dirk Pissens, President/Director General of Volvo France. “The Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship is a key element in our global sailing sponsorship strategy, which also includes the Volvo Ocean Race. We are looking forward to seeing some spectacular racing here in Crozon-Morgat and would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck.”