A ROYAL wave greeted the 2018 RYA Youth National Championships as the major contest arrived in Largs.

Princess Anne came to town for the showpiece, and organisers were relieved to have a welcome day of sunshine following a disruptive week of bad weather and cancellations for the young sailors.

The UK’s premier youth sailing event welcomed a total of 243 sailors, which was returning to the town for the first time in five years.

This was the third consecutive year the Princess Royal has attended the Youth National Championships, which is the highlight of the youth racing calendar.

World champions, returning youth nationals winners and first-timers, were among the entries, as well as a host of sailors getting their first taste of action.

There was even an equipment debut with the Nacra 15 multihull racing in a dedicated fleet for the first time.

The 19-boat Radial Girls fleet at the Largs Youth Nationals was jam packed full of top quality sailors.

The championships were delayed for two days because of bad weather, but sunshine greeted the Princess Royal's arrival.

After meeting various dignitaries, including North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson and chief executive Elma Murray OBE, along with RYA officials, she was whisked off on her private boat to watch the youngsters involved in the championships at sea.

Niamh Harper and Ross Thompson started the final day in pole position for the win in the Open 420 class following an impressive day four string of results and never seemed like letting it slip from their grasp taking two wins from two final day races.

In the NACRA 15, it was a perfect day on the water for William Smith and Abigail Clarke (Grafham SC/Lymington YC) as two wins capped of a top quality regatta for the pair.

Smith/Clarke proved their dominance winning six of the ten races throughout the series which allowed them a little bit of time to enjoy the Youth Nationals title out on the waters of Largs before the racing had even finished:

Clarke said: “To win with a race to spare was amazing."

Chloe Barr remained focussed on her goal to win the Laser Radial Girls gold, overcoming Daisy Collingridge, who was leading the fleet heading in to the final two races.