YOUNG sailors from Frensham Pond have excelled on the water again.

Twelve-year-old Finlay Lomas-Clarke clinched first place in the Southern Area Championships for Tera Sport in Lymington while team-mate Tristan Ahlheid took third.

And there was a similar result in the Lymington Aero Open event with Ralph Neville securing glory with Tom Ahlheid in third.

Meanwhile, thousands of people of all ages and abilities have taken to the water across the UK this month to experience sailing and windsurfing the Royal Yacht Association’s Push the Boat Out initiative.

Frensham Pond Sailing Club, near Farnham, saw almost 300 excited adults and children take part in 225 taster sails, making it the busiest open day to date and meaning that most people who visited got out on the water and gave sailing a go.

“I’m so pleased he gave it a go, he really enjoyed it,” said one mum after her son returned from a taster sail on a cadet class boat, eager to learn more about the RYA courses that the club has to offer.

Mark Walker, the cadet class captain, was on hand throughout the day to answer any questions.

A club spokesman said: “This is a great day for the club, a real opportunity for the community, young and old, to come and get a feel for what the club has to offer and to try their hand at sailing. Sailing is a fantastic sport and we are so lucky here at Frensham to have the facilities for local adults and children to use.”

As well as taster sails in Cadets, GP14s and Sailability, the club offered time with the coaches on the water, with the Tera training and RIB rides to get up close to the action on the water observing the youth fleet training sessions.

The club also has an active model boat section that was present at the event and the open day raised more than £100 for the Stroke Association.

To get involved with sailing at Frensham Pond, email membership @sailfrensham.org.uk or visit www.sailfrensham.org.uk.