A CHALLENGE has been set for schoolchildren ahead of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta which returns to borough waters in just over a week’s time.

From June 6 – 11, the world-class competition will return to the waters of Weymouth and Portland, bringing together top Olympic and Paralympic class sailors from across the globe.

This year, the event has set a challenge for local youngsters, with an international flag competition, and the prize up for grabs is a visit from a member of the British Sailing team, Skandia Team GBR.

All local primary and secondary pupils are invited to take part and pupils are being asked to submit their drawings of international flags to represent the countries competing at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta.

The competition encourages the students to research the different nation’s flags and to learn more about the visiting countries that will be competing on the waters at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy during the Olympics.

In addition to the competition, some of the schools in the local area have ‘adopted’ one of the competing countries and will get the chance to meet their country’s top sailors during the event.

Budmouth College has adopted the German team, and Gareth Biddle, director of learning at the school, said: “We are looking for as many opportunities as possible for our students to engage with the Olympics and to get involved.

“We hope that being a part of Skandia Sail for Gold is just the start as it has already got our staff and more importantly, our students excited about these unique world events that are happening on their doorstep.”

He added: “We’re adopting the German team and some staff and pupils from our modern foreign languages department are going down to the sailing academy to meet with them on Wednesday, June 8.

“It’s really good. We’ve started off with our geography department Year Seven and Eights are completing flags of the competing nations and finding out different bits about the countries competing.

“We’ve also got students entering the flag competition.”

If you would like to get involved, email nicky.moore@intotheblue.biz Alternatively download the information pack from the event website skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk