A SCHOOLBOY sailor from Chester is steering a course to the top of his sport.
Jack Shepherd, a Year 10 student at Abbey Gate College, only started racing in September last year for his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
After making rapid progress over the last 12 months, he has earned a place on International Topper Class Association (Great Britain) national racing squad for 2012-13.
Along with 31 other young sailors from all over the UK, he will attend eight training weekends between now and June 2013 at major sailing venues all over the country.
He will continue to compete at UK events as well as the Topper World Championships in 2013.
Jack was a racing novice this time last year. Following a couple of wins at North Wales regional events in a borrowed club-rigged Topper, he had a racing-rigged boat by Christmas and went on to train throughout the winter.
During the spring and summer of 2012, he took part in a number of North Wales regional competitions, UK national racing events and the week-long Topper National Championships in Pwllheli where he was awarded the Endeavour Shield.
At the end of the 2012 sailing season, Jack collected the trophy for winning Topper in the North Wales Club Youth Race Circuit series, and Llyn Brenig Sailing Club’s shield for Most Improved Sailor 2012.
