More than 40 of Great Britain’s most promising big boat sailors have received a major boost in realising their yachting ambitions after being selected for the prestigious 2008-09 Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme.

Handpicked from a series of nationwide Open Keelboat Training events over the year, a total of 46 sailors were chosen for the three highly-competitive Programme squads – National, Northern and Southern – after undergoing a vigorous three-day selection trial at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy last month.

David Atkinson, RYA Racing Services Manager, said: “We are very pleased with the standard of sailors we have not only acquired for the forthcoming season but also the sailors we have retained.”