STEPHEN Penfold will take on some of the world's top sailors when he competes for Great Britain at the European Championships in Spain this week.

The 20-year-old from Wootton Bassett is making his second appearance at the championships, which begin on Wednesday, having made his international debut when they were held at Hayling Island last year.

Penfold sails a Europe, a ten-foot single-handed dinghy, and is the top British male in his category.

He is travelling down to Spain as part of the squad of eight. He qualified for the team by winning two national events this year and securing several other top placings.

The modest Cheltenham College student is wary of talking up his chances against top opposition.

He said: I'd say it was a bit ambitious to look to win. I'm just looking forward to holding my own in the middle of the fleet.

Last year, I didn't get on very well. I did struggle. It was very competitive and it was my first ever international event, so I struggled but I managed to hold my own.

This year I'm hoping to build on that really, and try to work my way up the fleet.

The British squad go as a team, but we race as individuals. I am aiming to be the top British sailor. There is a bit of rivalry between us.

Penfold has just been made the first youth squadron captain at South Cerney Sailing Club in the Cotswold water park.

He races for the club and spends a lot of time practising there. His father Bob is a former commodore.

He has been sailing since the age of 13, starting off in a two-man cadet but graduating to the Europe, which is ideally suited to someone who is fairly light.

Penfold has his sights set on becoming a professional sailor, but there are not many of those around and he knows it will take a lot of hard work.

He said: You have to get to a very high standard to be a professional sailor. For the next couple of years, I'll keep sailing my Europe and keep doing the international events.

I will try and spend bit more time sailing, put more training in and try and build on what I've done already.

I will stay in the Europe for a couple of years, depending on my size, and then maybe move into a bigger boat.