The Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYAS) has received a £337,000 grant from sportscotland.

The funding, made up of £189,080 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £148,000 of sportscotland funding from the Scottish Government. will be distributed by RYAS, the governing body for the sport sailing in Scotland, to develop the sport across the country.

Initiatives to benefit from the monies include the drive to increase the number of Scottish sailors in the Olympics and a programme to improve opportunities for young people to become involved in the sport.

Agnes Barclay, chief operating officer of RYAS, said: “The funding enables us to provide a proven pathway to Olympic achievement – starting with a youngster’s first sailing experience in a small dinghy, going through various training stages, achieving a place in the Scottish Sailing Squad and being coached towards the ultimate goal - selection for the British Sailing Squad and the Olympics.”