Patrick Liddicoat has become one of the youngest members of the Great Britain under-15s team.

Liddicoat, just 12, earned his place after impressing in Royal Yachting Association trials in Weymouth.

The Hove youngster has been selected for the Optimist single-handed class in the French National Championships next month.

Liddicoat said: "Selection was my major goal this year and I'm very pleased.

"The trials weren't easy, they was very intensive, but thankfully I must have done enough.

"Even though I'm one of the youngest in the team and it is a physically demanding class, I think I'll be okay in France.

"I'm trying to keep fit. I have to train at home, though, because I'm too young to use my local gym, but I get by.

"I am a good size for my age, about 5ft.8in and quite strong."

Liddicoat, a pupil at St Christopher's, will compete at Sables D'Olonnes on the Bay of Biscay, close to where around-the-world sailor Ellen McArthur completed her trip.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it. There are about 600 French helms and eight from Britain so it should be a great experience."

Liddicoat sees the championships as a step towards realising his long-term dream.

He said: "I love sailing and competing and want to go as far as I can and represent my country in a big senior international like the European Championships, World Championships and even the Olympics."

Liddicoat has been fast-tracked during the past four years by the RYA.

He was selected for the regional squad by the governing body almost immediately after starting to compete as an eight-year-old. Liddicoat took part in South East Open meets and a national ranking series, performances which secured his call-up to the International Optimist Class national intermediate squad at the age of ten. He also won the under-11 trophy at the National Inlands Championship.

He was eighth in the National Junior Championships at Weymouth last year and was called into the national training squad. Liddicoat gained experience at the Easter Regatta at Braaemermeer in Holland and the Flanders Youth Regatta at Niewpoort in 2003.

Liddicoata also plans to compete in Belgium, Holland and Ireland. He said: "I'll do the best I can and, if nothing else, improve my racing, continue to have fun with the sport and carry on meeting up with sailors across the world."

Paperboy Oliver Hobson has made his own headlines.

Hobson, who delivers The Argus, won the charter class at the Tobago Regatta with his dad Robin in the Caribbean.

The 15-year-old, from Worthing, guided the yacht Annie-T to victory with two firsts and a second place.

Robin said: "It was a fantastic race. I captained the boat but Oliver did a sterling job as part of the crew which also included Jeremy Bethell and Jerry Hulme from Bognor and Colin Rudge from Pulborough.

"It was extra special for me because it gave me the chance to bond a bit more with my 15-year-old son."

The Hobsons chartered the yacht from a close friend.

Robin said: "I've known the guy since we were 17 and he let me have the yacht cheap, otherwise I could not have afforded it."

Oliver is a pupil at Our Lady of Sion (Worthing) and was given permission to go on his trip to the Caribbean by head Michael Scullion.

He started sailing at Pagham Lagoon six years ago.

The Hobsons are members of the Shoreham Sailing Club.