JERSEY’S NatWest Island Games sailing team has been announced.

Travelling to Rhodes at the end of June will be veteran competitors David Carter and Martin Speller who will sail in the Laser standard class, and Emma Speller (17) and Lydia Carter (15) who will take on the competition of the Laser radial class.

Team manager, Heather Speller said: ‘Although the team may appear inexperienced with two Island Games newcomers, it is still an experienced squad.

David and Martin have been to the Games for a number of years and are a strong hope for individual medals, and it’s great to see two girls selected for the radial class.

We had a very successful team in 2005 and I think the team gold is a possibility again.’ The six trial races were held over three weekends in December in St Aubin’s Bay and with the possibility of windy weather in Rhodes, the trials mirrored the expected conditions in what proved to be a series of testing events.

In the radial class trials, David Carter won all of his races, finishing ahead of Emma Speller, Martin’s niece, who has recently had some excellent results in regattas in the UK.

Lydia Carter, David’s daughter, came in third and Leo Scholefield a very creditable fourth.

In the standard class, David Carter was again unstoppable, winning all of his races ahead of Martin Speller who finished second throughout.

Ed Riley persevered over the course of the trials and despite a number of capsizes in the first two races completed the competition in third.

With Carter’s success in both classes came a dilemma for the Selection Committee of RCIYC’s Ken Le Marquand, SHYC’s Peter Hanning and Steve Pearl – whether to choose Carter for the radial or standard team.

The committee chose to send David Carter for the standard class therefore boosting Lydia Carter into the radial team.

‘Lydia is a very calm sailor who has put in a lot of effort and training over the last 12 months and therefore has a lot of experience including competing at the Jeux des Iles.

She really has come through the ranks to earn her place in the team,’ said Heather.

Silver medalist in Shetland in 2005, David Carter said: ‘Although the team lacks the experience of previous Island Games sailing teams, it is representative of the growing strength of the Island’s younger sailors.

‘With younger sailors offering more potential for improvement over the coming years compared to their experienced counterparts, the future looks good for Jersey’s sailing team,’ Carter added.