DORSET sailor Adam Butler and his crew Nikki Boniface will fill the final British berth for this summer’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships following their performance at Eurocat – the RYA’s nominated selection trials event for the catamaran class – in Carnac at the weekend.

Christchurch’s Butler, 17, the 2008 SL16 RYA Youth National champion, and Polegate-based Nikki Boniface, who turns 16 later this month, got the nod for the Hobie 16 slot for the ISAF Youth Worlds in Buzios, Brazil, in July on account of finishing ahead of rivals Sam Rowles and Gilly Sutcliffe in France.

With a place in RYA Volvo Team GBR for the prestigious Youth Worlds at stake, neither team was prepared to give an inch as racing proved to be extremely close, with both British boats finishing within two places of one another more than once in the seven-race series.

However, although it was Rowles and Gilbert who had the upper hand going into the final race, a fifth place for Butler/Boniface and a 19th for Rowles/Gilbert ensured that Butler and Boniface leapfrogged their challengers. The result secured a three-point advantage in the final standings and the Buzios selection.

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: “In the end it was so close and enormous credit must go to both crews who really did go all out to try to win selection for the ISAF Youth Worlds.

“With Eurocat being nominated as the primary selection event for the Cats, we stated from the outset that we would be looking to select the team that finished highest-placed in Carnac. So, we congratulate Adam and Nikki and wish them all the best for Brazil.”

Once again RYA Volvo Team GBR will be supported by Musto in Brazil while all selections are subject to the 10 selected sailors, across the seven competing classes, meeting an agreed performance programme.