photo thanks to Richard Miller

Mara Lyon (12) from Slockavullin learned to sail at Craignish Boat Club, Ardfern. She attended Kilmartin Primary School. In 2010 she started competing at sailing in her Topper boat at various events around Scotland in the beginners fleet. The aim that season was simply to take part, have fun and gain experience. However she came second overall in the fleet. Over the summer of 2011 she had to move up to the main fleet, racing her boat against other young people aged up to 18, while she was one of the youngest and smallest sailors. She took part in various races and also the National Championship which was held at North Berwick this year and had over 300 sailors competing. She came 84th in that event and 13th overall in the Scottish Traveller Championship.

On the basis of her results and commitment she has now been selected to become a member of the Scottish Topper National Youth Squad. 10 Scottish Sailors are member of this and she is the youngest girl and one of the youngest members. This squad involves 10 weekends of training at the National watersports Centre Cumbrae over the coming winter and will test her commitment!
All the training and entry into competitions is expensive and she is looking for sponsors to help with costs or providing equipment.

She is still young to be training at this level where she gets instruction in sailing, nutrition and fitness and she now has a few years to build up her skills and compete at this level.