A YOUNG Starcross sailor has been nominated for a prestigious national award.

Fourteen-year-old Eleanor Poole is in the running for Youth Sailor of the Year after an impressive performance and win at the Topper National Championships, the first female to do so in the 30-year history of the Ian Proctor trophy.

Eleanor, who first learned to sail and race competitively at Starcross yacht club aged eight, kept her cool against a 190-boat fleet to win the national championships held at the 2012 Olympic venue the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

In 2015, she also achieved second overall and the first female in the Irish Topper Nationals and seventh overall and third female in the Topper World Championships held on Lake Garda in Italy.

Votes can be cast for Eleanor online by going to www.yachstandyachting.co.uk/home-featured/vote-now-in-the-yy-awards-2016.

The winner will be announced at the London Boat Show in January.