SCHOOL pupils competed in close racing on the 2012 Olympic waters.

Pupils from All Saints Church and Wey Valley secondary schools attended the event run by Sail Laser at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The youngsters got to race Pico class boats in six races during the regatta day in Portland Harbour.

The weather stayed fine with a good breeze, which meant the pupils could enjoy more races.

Other pupils from Budmouth Technology College, Thomas Hardye School and Sir John Colfox School had been due to take part but were unable to attend on the day.

Sailing instructor with Sail Laser, Emma Dawson, said: “The regatta was a follow up to the Schools’ Regatta we had last month, when teams from West and East Dorset competed against each other.

“Most of the children who sailed in that regatta were quite experienced.

“The idea was to not exclude the children who were beginners.

“For the last 10 weeks we have been having school’s evening sailing classes for pupils from Thomas Hardye’s, Budmouth, Colfox and All Saints to allow them to gain their Royal Yachting Academy qualifications.”

She added: “The idea was to get the beginners to race against each other.

“We had quite a lot of children from Wey Valley and All Saints and they raced against each other. The overall winners were Wey Valley.

“Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves.”

The sailing lessons had been part of an extra curricular club that was run throughout the summer term, one evening a week.

PE and science teacher at All Saints school, Mark Sergison, said: “It was a brilliant day’s racing and a really close competition.

“It was great that two of our Year Nine pupils, Peter Dilliston and Harry Hinpze, won silver medals in the individual races. They were really pleased.”

He added: “All the pupils that raced had improved their sailing through the 10-week course. Many had never sailed before and it’s a really nice way to end the course.”