TWO MORE young Dorset athletes have earned call-ups to the prestigious Youth Sailing World Championships in Italy this summer, completing the British Youth Sailing Team’s 16-athlete line-up at the event.

Emma Rennie and Oli Evans, both from Parkstone Yacht Club, have been selected to fly the British flag at the 2024 edition of the event, often dubbed the ‘Youth Olympics’ for sailing, which is being staged at Lake Garda between Saturday, July 13, and Friday, July 19.

They will be the sole British representatives in their respective female and male Formula kite events – a high-speed discipline which sees athletes ride a shortboard with a hydrofoil fitted to it, lifting them around a metre clear of the water.

Formula kite will be making its Olympic Games debut in Marseille this summer, with top level riders – including Poole’s Team GB Olympic representative Ellie Aldridge – able to hit speeds of up to 50mph.

The pair were the top under-19 female and male riders at the ‘Battle of the Bill’ selection event held in Portland earlier this month, and both will be making their Youth Worlds debuts in Lake Garda.

Emma said: “I feel honoured to be representing GBR and am hopeful that the time and hard work I have put in, on and off the water, in preparation will pay off.

“I'm looking forward to competing in a small fleet against the top riders of my age, being able to showcase my tactics and skills to perform to the best of my abilities.”

Evans added: “I am super excited to be able race in Lake Garda and have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate the opportunities that have led to this event. 

“I am really excited to race against international competition and also to experience (the venue) for the first time.”

14 of the 16 British Youth Sailing Team athletes were selected following the RYA Youth National Championships in April. 

Rennie and Evans will join fellow Dorset talents Darcey Shaw, also from Parkstone Yacht Club who won iQFOiL windsurf bronze at last year’s event, and Portland-based Amelie Hiscocks, competing in the female skiff event alongside teammate Annabelle Vines.