A SCHOOLBOY from Bushey has been selected for a national junior sailing squad.

Tom Collyer, 12, made it through three tough selection events with his sailing partner to be selected for the National Junior Squad for Sailing.

He said: “I’m really excited about it because the national champion is also in the squad.

“There will be a lot of training and that will really improve us.”

The sailing star has just made the huge step from primary to secondary school, moving from Ashfield Primary School to Queens’ School last month, but he doesn’t believe it will affect his sailing.

He said: “I will just have to make sure that all my homework gets done before the weekend so I can sail.”

Along with his sailing partner Jamie Proffitt, who lives in Hatfield Heath, Tom will have his first training session with the squad during half term at the National Sailing Academy in Weymouth, which is the Olympic venue for sailing for 2012.

Tom added: “I’m really excited about it because last time I was there I saw quite a few Olympic athletes training.”

The pair began sailing together last September after they met at Fisher’s Green Sailing Club near Waltham Abbey, where Tom is also a member of the cadet class dinghy.

Tom began sailing in 2009 at Aldenham Sailing Club after hearing tales of his father Peter’s experiences on the water.

He said: “I like the way that it has quite complex techniques and manoeuvres.”

Peter Collyer began sailing when he was the same age as Tom, but gave it up when he reached his late teens.

He has recently taken to the water again with Tom, and the father and son regularly sail together.