Parkinson best of the young Brits in Naples

Saturday 10th January 2009, 9:29AM GMT.

Zoe Parkinson opened 2009 with a terrific performance in her Optimist dinghy. (0699247)

ZOE PARKINSON (14) has started the 2009 sailing year in superb form.

She finished 18th in a massive international fleet of Optimist sailing dinghies while competing for Great Britain at a major regatta.

The five sailors selected to sail for Britain were all ranked in the national top 16 and found themselves competing as part of a group of 182 boats from 15 nations.

The wind on the first day of sailing was about 10 knots from the north east, which proved ideal for the young Guernsey girl, who is still very light for her age.

With the fleet split into two flights, she scored a 29th (which ultimately was her discard), a seventh and a second on the first day.