YOUNGSTER Jack Acton was one of four junior members of Christchurch Sailing Club to take part in the RYA South Zone Championship at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy last weekend.

While club-mates Sam de la Feuillade, Drew Barnes and Cain Ashby participated in the Optimist class, Acton hit the waves in a Topper for arguably his biggest event to date.

Having finished 25th out of 31 in his opening race, Acton set about a marked improvement in his next two showdowns, taking 17th and 12th respectively. He came 23rd in the fourth race with the result of his final run discarded.

A total of 77 points saw him finish 21st overall.

In the Optimists, de la Feuillade was the pick of the bunch with victory in his final race to secure 19th place from the field of 93.

Ashby finished 31st while Barnes came 59th in the final reckoning.

The RYA Zone and Home Countries Championships traditionally mark the end of the junior racing season and the start of a hard winter’s training.

The regatta is a great first-time event for club level junior-class sailors, giving them the opportunity and support to get a real feel of a championship atmosphere.

It is a stepping stone into regional and national racing and race training programmes and a key event for any young sailor wishing to be selected for the RYA Zone and Home Country Squads.