CHRIS Catt of the Downs Sailing Club, Walmer, finished second at the Topper class world championships in Workum, Holland.

The 17-year-old Sir Roger Manwood’s School pupil competed 10 times over five days and went into the final race knowing that he was at least guaranteed silver.

At that stage he was lying just behind Campbell Davidson, from Scotland, and Catt who lives in Northbourne Road, Deal, said: “The boats were split into two for the final race, with Campbell going in the first race.

“He won that, which meant that I couldn’t catch him in the second race, but I was still delighted to come away with the silver medal.”

Catt, who has been sailing at the Downs since he was a youngster, will be competing in the National Schools Team Championships next month.

Hugh Styles, from Sandwich, and his crew Adam May, finished 11th in a Tornado class pre-Olympic Athens regatta.

Styles, another Downs club member, said: “The Athens event was a great learning event for us and the whole of the British sailing team, getting used to the different course areas and the heat, and avoiding the effects of dehydration."

Styles and May will be competing in the Tornado world championships in Martha’s Vineyard, in the USA, later this month.