JOHANNA ASPLUND was yesterday crowned girls’ British National Optimist champion.
The 14-year-old Guernsey Yacht Club sailor finished the 12-race championships at Largs Sailing Club on 210 points after her two race discards to place 20th in the whole senior fleet.
Her nearest rival for the British crown, Megan Brickwood from Hayling Island, was 20 points behind the Sarnian in 22nd overall.
Three races were held yesterday in very tough conditions of heavy rain and high winds. Asplund finished 29th, seventh and 34th respectively.
Some of Britain’s most illustrious Olympians have passed through the Optimist class on their way to the biggest prize in world sport including triple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie, two-time Olympic gold medallists Iain Percy and Sarah Ayton and Andrew Simpson, who claimed Beijing 2008 Star class victory alongside Percy.