A promising 15-year-old sailor has been revealed as the winner of the South West RYA Youth Champion Award.

Benno Marstaller, from Falmouth and a member at Restronguet Sailing Club, was selected as a winner by the South West Regional Committee because of his impressive sailing achievements; he was given a place in the UK National Sailing Squad when he was just 10 years old, was ranked third by the RYA/International Optimist Class Association in 2012, and first in 2013.

In 2014 he gained a bronze medal in the Optimist squad at the UK Worlds team racing competition in Italy, and last year became British National Champion and the German International Champion in the Laser 4.7 class.

Benno recently set up a Laser youth squad in Restronguet to develop the appreciation of sailing and its legacy in Mylor and Cornish waters.

On hearing of the award, he said: “It is an honour to receive this award and be recognised by the RYA. My next aim is to rank highly in the European Laser 4.7 Youth Championship 2016 in France this July. I’ve been sailing for about half my life, and it’s a massive part of what I am, so I hope to continue sailing throughout my life.”

Benno will receive his award along with 11 regional winners at the official awards presentation taking place at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show on Saturday, March 5.

The awards will be presented by British sailing team member Giles Scott at 1.15pm on the Suzuki main stage.

The awards were created in 2014 to recognise the outstanding achievement and performance of young people across the range of activities the RYA represents, including sailing, windsurfing and powerboating.

RYA Sport Development Manager Duncan Truswell said: “We are delighted to acknowledge the achievements of young boaters from across the United Kingdom. They have all excelled during 2015, and we hope to see these sailors go on to achieve great things in our sport.”