An 18-year-old sailor from High Wycombe was selected to represent Great Britain in world championships this summer.

High Wycombe's Leo Wilkinson was among 16 most promising young sailors to qualify to Youth Sailing World Championships.

The talented youngsters, all who are aged 18 or under, will represent the British Youth Sailing (BYS) Team in eight classes at the 51st edition of the youth event at The Hague, Netherlands, between July 8-15 2022. 

Flackwell Heat- based Mr Wilkinson explained how he got into sailing: "I started when I was nine at the Maidenhead Sailing Club, where I just did course. 

READ MORE: Delayed Beaconsfield Medical Centre: then and now

"It was just a Saturday club when I started, but now I've travelled all over the world for it."

The spots across the world include competitions in Omar, China, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. 

His favourite place to sail is Lake Garda in Italy, because "they have these thermal breezes that make the conditions really good," he said. 

The squad will be coached and supported by the returning team of Olympian Kate Macgregor, current British Sailing Team iQFOiL women’s coach Sam Ross and BYS squad coach James Hadden.

Mr Wilkinson explained how he felt about the upcoming challenge: "Really excited, I went last year but this time I'm crewing with a new partner, it's quite an experience and I will try to learn as much as possible." 

READ MORE: Great Marlow School 'aware' of pupil's 'racist slurs' in viral TikTok

His new crew partner Santiago Sesto-Cosby (Royal Lymington YC), while Mr Wilkinson still trains with the Maidenhead Sailing Club.

Previous Youth Worlds participants include some of today's best-known sailors including the world's most decorated Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie and 2008 Beijing gold medallist Pippa Wilson.