Two Ceredigion sailors have sailed the high seas with a vengeance after scooping first positions in the RYA Cymru Welsh Youth and Junior Championships.

Attracting 113 competitors from all across the UK, a total of 89 boats made for some close racing across the fleets at the Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy in Pwllheli where 16-year-old Bronwen Thomas from Rhydlewis competed in the ILCA 4 class and Steffan Williams, aged 14, from New Quay sailed in the Topper class sailing dingy.

The sailors are both pupils at Ysgol Bro Teifi in Llandysul.

“It was an absolutely amazing event, even though wind was forecasted to build all day, and it came in early so we had some very challenging conditions,” said Steffan.

“There was a lot of chop with one metre waves but we were able to fit in five races on the Saturday before the storm came in on Sunday, and I was consistent with four firsts and one second.“

Steffan managed to scoop wins in the Welsh Topper Youth and the Junior Champion.

“I only began competing in Easter so I’m hoping this is the start of my sailing career,” he said. “I even got a congratulations video message sent to me from the two-time Welsh world champion and Olympic gold medallist sailor Hannah Mills OBE, who was competing at the Sail GP event in Italy. I’m a huge fan so it was incredible."

Bronwen is also well-known on the sailing circuit after coming 6th in the Topper World Championship in Lake Garda in July 2022. Training at the Pembrokeshire Performance Sailing Academy (PPSA) in Neyland, this year Bronwen has transitioned into the ILCA 4 sailing dingy and is continuing with her success and is looking forward to more upcoming events.