Local sailors, Maisie Harkess and Annabel Hitchmough from Bowmoor Sailing Club, Lechlade are heading for the USA this summer to take part in the 420 World Championships. The girls learned to sail at Bowmoor Sailing Club when they were eight years old and have been sailing together since, reaching national and international level competition. Now aged 17 and 16 they have qualified to represent GBR at the 420 World Championships to be held in Newport, Rhode Island. Helm Maisie said ‘we were really pleased to get a place in the squad, all the qualifying events were very windy and as a lightweight crew it was challenging, but now we training hard and looking forward to racing against crews from all over the world.’ Bowmoor Sailing Club’s Commodore John Banbrook said: “Bowmoor Sailing Club are extremely proud that Maisie and Annabel will represent our Club at a World Championship event in America this summer. Both girls are fabulous ambassadors for the Club and sailing; not only do they compete at a very high standard, they are both qualified instructors and regularly contribute to teaching younger sailors at the Club – we wish them all the very best in their endeavors.” The pair are raising money to fund their campaign. Annabel explained ‘We have support from the Royal Yachting Association, but we need to fund our own travel costs, so we are fundraising like mad’. Any donations, however small will make a huge difference!