A pair of Angus teenagers are preparing to battle the elements and class rivals after being selected to sail for Scotland this weekend.
Niamh Harper, from Carnoustie and Letham’s Anna Sturrock will fly the flag at the Royal Yachting Association’s Home Nations Championship in Northern Ireland when they line up against some of the UK’s best young sailors on Strangford Lough.
The two 13-year-olds will race in single-handed Topper dinghies following training with top RYA UK and Scottish sailing squads.
Home nations duty will, however, see the pair pull on wetsuits rather than party dresses as they forego the walk of fame at RYA Scotland’s annual awards dinner at Glasgow’s Science Centre.
Dundee High School pupil Anna was to be stepping up to receive the prize for the first girl in the Scottish Topper national rankings on the same points as the top boy.
Niamh, from Grove Academy, who has been racing Toppers for less time than Anna, was the third girl in the rankings, with Prestwick’s Mara Lyon second.
At the end of next week, the girls are on the road again for the Topper Winter Championships in Weymouth, but for now all thoughts are on the Home Nations, where they expect strong competition.
The team will have a small band of supporters at Strangford Lough, including Anna’s Irish cousins who face divided loyalties as another cousin, Tim Brow, is racing for the Irish Laser radial team.
This summer, Niamh, from Loch Tummel Sailing Club, and Anna, a Royal Tay Yacht Club cadet and member of Forfar and Loch Tummel sailing clubs, will race for two weeks at the Topper Nationals and World Championships in North Wales.
Another Angus teenager, Alistair Ferguson, the Royal Tay Yacht Club’s cadet of the year, will join them for the nationals.
At the same time, Anna’s younger sister, Suzie Sturrock, of Letham Primary School, will be competing in a smaller dinghy, the Optimist, at their national championships in Weymouth.