AN all-girl boat racing team hope to be crowned winners at this year’s Wilson Trophy on West Kirby’s Marine Lake.

Athena Racing, made up of Octavia Owen (18), Hebe Hemming (19) and sisters Ruby and Amber Riggs (19 and 16), have been sailing together at West Kirby Sailing Club since the age of 7 and are currently ranked 13th in the Women’s International Match Racing Series (WIM).

They will also be the first all-female team that the sailing club has entered for the competition.

Octavia said:“We are very excited to be taking part in the Wilson Trophy in in our home town.

“Athena Racing is the first all-female team that West Kirby Sailing Club has entered for the Wilson Trophy.

“We are so grateful for the club’s support.

“Local favourites and four-time Wilson Trophy winners, West Kirby Hawks, are competing again this year.

“The standard of sailing will just be unbelievable and it will be amazing for us to take part.”

Athena Racing have a busy year ahead after being invited to take part in WIM in Sweden this summer before taking part in The Women’s Match Racing Worlds in Russia.

Hebe said: “We are especially excited about the upcoming WIM series because we have brand new sailing bibs which we’ll be unveiling soon.

“Big thank you to Becki Wilson at The Loft creative agency in Hoylake for designing them.

“We’re really happy to have a new kit that will set us apart as serious competition.

“We will look and feel the part.”

Regarded as the most prestigious team racing event in the world, The Wilson Trophy will take place on Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6 with around 300 teams taking part in the free event.