Teenagers join a pair of stalwarts in sailing team for Orkney

But when it comes to medal prospects, 17-year-olds Monty Desforges and Jess Watson are definitely not just there to make up numbers, while veterans Dave Aslett and Darragh Lee provide valuable experience and a further boost to their team hopes.

Although senior star Andrew Bridgman’s international Waszp sailing commitments mean he will not be defending his ILCA 7 title, his mother, Margaret, will be onboard as team manager.

‘If we get medals, that’s great,’ she said.

‘But it’s not all about medals. It’s about getting up there, gaining experience and making new friends, sailing some places you would never normally sail.

‘It’s a fantastic opportunity to do that.’

Both of the youngsters will be sailing lighter ILCA 6 boats and have plenty of experience to gain, with it being Desforges’ competitive Games debut and Watson's second appearance.

Aslett and Lee are sailing in the ILCA 7 class, having both made their debuts during the 1990s and amassed many appearances since. The former was quick to acknowledge the contrast in backgrounds between team members.

‘A mixture of two very experienced sailors and two more up-and-coming sailors, I suppose, but I suspect they’re the ones who are going to do really well, as they’re the ones who are training hard and doing a lot of sailing against unknown competition.’

From manager Bridgman’s perspective, it would be a success provided it is a ‘nice, friendly, competitive Games’.

‘That’s really important, that the competitors and management teams enjoy the event.

‘Hopefully, spectator-wise, it will be good – they will have trackers on their boats and you can follow them from the Orkney website.’