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Sailing Star Sets His Sights on Olympic Games

Sailing Sixth Form star George Hand is hoping to catch the eye of Olympic coaches when he takes part in an Olympic ranking event.

George has just come back from the European Sailing Championships in Costa Brava and he is now setting his sights on the ranking event in Weymouth in August.
He will be sailing with a new teammate, Bleddyn Mon, and they are hoping they will be able to do enough to be spotted by the national team's coaches.
George, who has just finished Year 13, is currently National Champion in the 29er class and he trains with the Olympic Transition Squad.
He said: "It would be amazing to make it to the Olympics. I think 2012 is a long shot, but hopefully I can make it to 2016."
George took part in the European Sailing Championships the day after finishing his last A Level, sitting exams in Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
He is going on to Southampton University in September to study Ship Science.
He puts his success down to a desire to win, saying: "I am very competitive and always want to win. Second place is never good enough.
"It is not just the physical challenge, but the mental challenge that I enjoy."
Sailing has always been George's passion since a young age - he was taught to sail by his parents David and Georgina, who both compete themselves at a national level.
The family are members of Northampton Sailing Club based at Pitsford Reservoir.
George is helped with a grant from the Kettering Grammar School Foundation and is also sponsored by sailing clothing firm Zhik.