Jak sails to more glory

6:20pm Tuesday 4th March 2008

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TALENTED young sailor Jak Cornthwaite has underlined his talents after a superb performance at the Open Qualifier for World and European events.

The 16-year-old from Baxenden took part in the prestigious event at Stokes Bay Sailing Club on the Solent at the weekend and finished in third place overall.

It was a performance that demonstrated just why Jak has been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Laser Radial Youth Championships in New Zealand later this month.

His intensive winter training regime paid off when in winds over 25mph gusting to 35 mph he registered a fifth, a second and a first place in the three round robin races on Saturday to be in second place overall overnight.

On Sunday, with the 112 TURN TO PAGE 17>> FROM PAGE 15 competitors now split into Gold and Silver fleets, he did not have the best of starts but still powered his way through in the two Gold fleet races to finish with a 2nd and a 3rd which gave him 3rd place overall for the event.

Jak's grandad, David Black, of Great Harwood, said: "Jak trained with the Olympic hopefuls squad in the days leading up to the event and that certainly helped him.

"This is Jak's best top level sailing performance yet and augers well for the World Championships in New Zealand if he gets the big winds and seas which he thrives on.

It is an incredible rise in fortunes for Jak who lives on Whooley Lane Farm, Baxenden.

For the teenager only took up sailing four years ago at East Lancs Sailing Club in Rishton.

He is now a member of Elton Sailing Club in Bury but much of his sailing is now at events or training all over the country.

He sails predominantly on the south coast at the National Sailing Academy in Weymouth, which is to be the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympics.