YOUNG Ella Stogall is making a splash in the sailing world after she won herself a place in the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) National Intermediate squad for winter training.
The 13-year-old from Poynton took part in a series of 24 races with over 270 other young sailors at three different venues around the UK to qualify as one of only 13 girls in a squad of 60.
The programme is run by the 10CA UK, the International Optimist Class Association in conjunction with the RYA and leads to the Selection Trials for the GBR European and World teams in April.
Ella, who sails at Carsington Sailing Club, has been sailing the Optimist - the leading junior boat for those sailors under 15 – since she was five and has already competed in Malta, France, Ireland where she finished as ‘first overseas girl’ at the Irish national championships this year and, most recently, in Berlin.
Here she was one of four sailors representing Great Britain in a team racing event and sailing against teams from 12 other countries including, Italy, Ukraine, Scandinavia, USA and Turkey.
The Beech Hall School pupil says her training schedule includes around 40 weekends a year and thousands of miles travelling around the UK and abroad.
She said: "The best bit about sailing is the freedom and self-reliance it gives you, as well as making friends around the world."
