STUDENTS from Budmouth College were treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta when they met up with the German competitors.

The school in Chickerell is among several across the borough to take on the regatta challenge of ‘adopting’ one of the countries competing on the borough’s 2012 waters of the in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events.

Budmouth College chose to support the German sailing team in recognition of the school’s long established German-exchange links, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary.

This year’s Sail for Gold, which ends today attracted a record-breaking 1,050 sailors and 740 boats from 62 nations.

The Budmouth youngsters, accompanied by German teacher Natalie Smith, geography teacher Martin Pick and the school’s ‘Olympic champion’ Gareth Biddle, visited the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Wednesday.

They met with the German 2012 hopefuls and were presented by a signed team picture which said ‘Thank you Budmouth College for your support’.

Mr Biddle, who is also director of learning at the school, said: “We hope to follow the German team all the way through to the Olympics and to develop opportunities with the sailors, their colleagues and family and to support a foreign competing nation.

“We’re making the most of having this on our doorstep.”

He added: “We want it to be a once in a lifetime event the students will always remember, we don’t want it to pass us by.”

Student Jacob Fry, 13, of Sutton Poyntz, said: “The Olympics is going to be amazing, it’s going to be a real honour for the people of Weymouth and Portland.”

Pupils from Royal Manor Arts College pupils also met their ‘adopted’ Australian team at the regatta this week, as did youngsters from Bincombe Valley Primary School, Weymouth who are supporting the Americans.