Today and tomorrow the country’s top Laser sailors will be gathering for the season’s first qualifier in Stokes Bay, Hampshire. The event is the first of the season's six qualifiers that - on a rolling basis - form the basis for the national ranking and ultimately the selection for the British teams for the World and European Championships. The next two qualifiers before the summer will be at Mountbatten, Plymouth in two weeks time and in Pwllheli, northwest Wales in early May.

Junior sailor Andy Bridgman will be flying the GYC flag. Sailing his first full year in the Radial class, the ex-Topper World Champion who moved to Guernsey last autumn is looking to climb the ranking ladder and also has an eye on the British team for the Youth European and World Championships in July in La Rochelle, France.

Apart from the qualifiers and the Youth World and Europeans, Andy is also looking forward to the Youth Nationals at Hayling Island in mid April where he will be joined by fellow Guernsey sailors David Sidebottom and Johanna Asplund who will step into the Laser Radial in between her Laser 4.7 events.

Good luck over the weekend Andy! We will be back with a report from the event on Monday or so. In the meantime, check out updates on the event website: http://www.kbsuk.com/laser/events/index.asp?EventID=19