Shropshire teenagers ride crest of wave

Two teenage Shropshire lads are off to compete for the country tomorrow in their sailing class world - championships in France, writes Ben Bentley.

Funny thing, brotherly love. On dry land they are the picture of sweetness and light, but put them in a boat together and George and Ed Shelley admit they go at it hammer and tongs.

"But neither of us takes it personally," says George. "It's constructive. Because he's my brother I can say anything to him and he takes it."

Their arguments - which they insist are not the fire and brimstone exchanges they once were - are all part of the winning formula that makes George and Ed, 16 and 14, among the most competitive and promising two-man sailing crews in Britain.

Paired together in their RS Feva boat, in October last year they were selected to join the national squad, in competition with 70 other crews, and in May they represented Team GB in the RS Feva Sailing Nationals.

They are now riding on the crest of a wave as they prepare to represent the country from tomorrow in the World Championships in Carnac, Brittany.

Water is their way of life. The Ellesmere College pupils sail every weekend , irrespective of the weather, mostly training at Whitemere, Ellesmere, but travelling the entire country to take part in Team GB races.

It's a rigorous regime for the youngsters out of the boat too as the boys have to undergo rigorous land training exercises to increase their overall fitness levels.

Due to their excellent seamanship, they have been selected for extra training by one of the top coaches in the UK.

But sailing comes naturally. George and Edward have been avid sailors since before they could walk. Their father Rob and mother Rachel used to take them on the high seas in their small yacht.

"I was two weeks old when I first went sailing," says Ed.

"And I was a couple of months old so, no, neither of us remember not being able to sail," adds George.

"My first memories are racing in a dinghy in Abersoch with my dad when I was about six.

"I used to crew for him. I started helming and then it changed round and he started crewing for me when I was about eight.

"What I love about sailing is the sense of freedom, the whole wind in your hair thing. It's exhilarating."

The brothers began sailing together soon after in an old mirror dinghy.

"It was this old, worn out boat, 60 years old while other sailors were in fibreglass boats that cost thousands of pounds.

"We've got a different boat now."

Selection for the National Squad at junior level was a big deal for the boys.

"We did not think we would get in but that felt like the first step on the ladder," says George.

"We were ecstatic," says Ed. "It was a real achievement."

"This year at the north zone championships we came third, but better than that we came third in part of a grand prix against 50 crews.

"That was so good, and such a confidence boost ahead of the Nationals. I don't think other people saw us as much of a threat before that but now they were taking notice."

However, cruel luck struck in the Nationals at Hayling Island, Hamptshire, this spring.

"It was pretty terrible," admits George. "It was windy - and we like windy - but 30 seconds before the first boat started our kicker snapped and we just had to sit the race out, one-and-a-half hours at sea, tired and freezing cold in the middle of a huge swell."

"That was a low," adds Ed.

However, subsequent races left their overall placing more respectable and from 130 boats the brothers finished 25th.

"The thing we took from the nationals is that we can recover mentally," George continues. "I though Ed might give up, but no, he said 'We can use this and recover'."

The experienced sailor knows that anything can happen at sea, and that it probably will.

George and Ed had a rudder snap on them during an inland competition last year. Ed has accidentally hit his brother in the face with flailing arms and flying ropes.

"And sailing in Abersoch last year our jib fell down and the mast snapped," says George.

It all means that even at their tender ages they have years of experience and are mentally and physically prepared for world championships.

The pair have one eye on Team GB selection for the 2018 Olympics but for now Carnac is the only thing on their minds.

"I'm a bit nervous. Carnac is somewhere I've never sailed so I'm excited but a bit nervous, but we are ready for it.

"There will be three 45-minute races across six days and we are travelling down a few days before to get ready.

Who knows what might happen?"

They will be sailing for individual crew glory, but a little bit of Shropshire will be at sea with them for the competition.

Nick Pettingale, director of development at Ellesmere College, says: "The boys have recently been sponsored by the Old Ellesmerian Club and as a result will be sailing with the School crest on their boat."

The other good thing about top level sailing is that George and Ed have cut down on their arguing, and by and large their boat sails on calm waters.

Says George: "We used to argue a lot, pushing ourselves - a bit too hard at times, expecting a bit too much of each other, but the training has got it out of our system."