Claudia Carney competing in the World Championships Pic: Marc Carney

Hythe brother and sister Elliot and Claudia Carney start what could be a memorable nine months of windsurfing, in Australia next week.

Both Elliot and Claudia are members of the GB Windsurfing Olympic Development Squad and have been training full-time with Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw, who have been selected for London 2012.

With two World Championships, a European Championship and five World Cup events, concluding with a Sail for Gold in Weymouth in June, the pre-Olympic schedule is full and will be demanding before the Games begin in August.

However, any changes in form or performance from Dempsey and Shaw could open the door to either of the two talented Kent sailors, who begin their winter campaign on Tuesday at the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Western Australia.