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Talented Isle of Wight sailing team gunning for gold in Orkney

THE Isle of Wight sailing team is aiming to upgrade their 2023 Island Games silver medal to gold this year. The team, who came second in Guernsey, has been carefully selected at a winter trial at Brading Haven Yacht Club, organised by team coach and manager, Tony Burton. Advertisement Tony said: "We had a very competitive selection event this year and we're certain we've got four great sailors from the Island. "We got a silver medal two years ago and we're really hoping we can go one better this time. Read more: "The depth of talent we had at our trials was there to be seen. "The team not only has experience on the Island, but at numerous venues all over the country and the world." The squad comprises young sailors with impressive credentials in the sport. Olly Mayo, 16, is part of the British youth sailing team, and has been sailing ILCA 6 boats for two years, despite only starting sailing at Yarmouth Sailing Club five years ago. Advertisement He is joined by Oliver Smith, who has been sailing since childhood. Oliver has represented Great Britain at the Youth European Championships and was part of the RYA British Youth Regional Training Squad. He also secured second place at the ILCA National Open Championships in March. Another member of the team, Harry White, 25, will be competing in an ILCA 7 in Orkney. This will be his third Island Games, having previously achieved silver in Guernsey. In 2022, Harry was named British Young Sailor of the Year, and was crowned 8m First Rule world champion last year. A member of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne, Harry lives just across the creek from it in Wootton. Advertisement He said: "This will be my third and last Island Games, because there is a lot of young talent coming through. "The Island Games is one of those where it's such a fun event, everyone needs to experience it. "It'll be time to pass the baton on after this, to let new talent come in." To prepare for the games, Harry explained he had been engaging in "a lot of bigger boat events" and had been sailing all winter in the Laser. "We will have one practice day to acclimatise, but it will be a baptism of fire, coming from the sunny Isle of Wight — but it shouldn't be anything we're not used to. Advertisement "It should be good and I can't wait to meet guys from other islands we've got to know over the years." Also part of the squad is Arthur Farley, who recently returned from Qingdao in China, where he competed in his first ILCA World Championships as a senior, finishing 38th. Despite his diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia, after winning the U19 ILCA 7 European Championships in 2022, Arthur has battled hard to continue sailing competitively. Tony said of Arthur's inclusion in the team: "We have a potential Olympic sailor in years to come, competing in his first Island Games. Advertisement "We're hoping his experience will lift the whole team as well."