Young sailors from all over the UK came to Helensburgh for the 420 Dinghy Class Championships organised by Helensburgh Sailing Club.

With some competitors arriving straight from the Junior Europeans event at Lake Garda, overall numbers were lower than when the class last visited the town in 2003 (when Luke Patience and crew Adam Wagner were the overall winners), but the competition was of the highest standard.

Days one and two were arranged as a Scottish Open Championship, with day three seeing the start of the full UK Championship once the Garda boats had arrived.

Tuesday saw periods of wet and very windy weather, which would continue throughout the week to stretch everyone to the limit.

Five races on day one saw Adele Young and Daniel Burns from Spinnaker SC in Hampshire sitting with four seconds and a third.

But there was a tightly packed group on their heels, including local sailor Calum Bell with crew Josh Hale.

Young and Burns consolidated their position on day two to win, ahead of class coach Neil Marsden and Alex Hughes from Preston, but it was a bad day at the office for Bell following a collision and a capsize.

The intensity of the weather progressed steadily into the nationals, and four races on both Thursday and Friday were taxing for the younger and lighter crews.

A new fleet leader quickly emerged with Niamh Harper and Ross Thomson (Loch Tummel SC) clocking up six bullets, a second and a third with some spectacular sailing.

Marsden pushed them all the way, with the opportunity to prevail on the final day if the Tummel two faltered.

It wasn't to be - a third on Saturday morning sufficed, and though Marsden went on to win the final race he ended up five points adrift in overall points.

Calum Bell and crew Josh Hale from Loch Venachar had a great nationals to finish fourth overall, behind the Colquitt/Giardelli crew from West Kirby.

It was a fine result for Bell and Hale, Lomond School pupil Bell only progressed from Toppers to 420s this season.

In addition to their overall placing, the pair also picked up top under-17 trophy, top non-GBR squad trophy and were crowned junior national champions.

The HSC team delivered 18 high quality races over the five days of racing and were congratulated by Rob Bellfield, class association chairman, at the prizegiving on Saturday afternoon.

Prizes were presented by Shandon sailor and Tokyo 2020 hopeful Anna Burnet.