Three young sailors will be swapping the freezing waters of Farmoor Reservoir for the balmy climes of New Zealand to take part in an international competition.

Sam Goodchild, Nick Wilk-inson and Tom Altmann will be racing against about ten other teams from all over the world in the invitation only National Bank Youth International Match Racing Championships in Auckland.

The team, led by 19-year-old Sam Goodchild from Brize Norton, were last year crowned youth national match racing champions without losing a single match in the championship.

Goodchild, a former Burford School pupil, said: “It is unofficially considered to be the youth world match racing championship.

“It will be our first international competition and we are really, really excited to get out there, see what we can do and hopefully come back with a good result.”

Since Goodchild left school last year, he has set his sights on making a career in yacht racing and is hoping to eventually compete in solo off-shore racing.

Altmann, 18, is a former Abingdon School pupil while Wilkinson, 17, is still a pupil at the prestigious school.

The trio flew out last week and will have until tomorrow to acclimatise themselves to the conditions and the boats which they will be racing.

They will then take part in about 30 races in four days before the winner is decided.

Goodchild said: “We have been trying to do as much training as we can in lots of places in Oxford, particularly Farmoor Reservoir, but Auckland is going to be quite different with the tides and the winds and the harbour, so it will feel a bit different.

“The main challenge to begin with will be getting used to the boats, which are supplied to competitors, because we have never sailed them.

“Then it’s making sure that we work together as we know we can to get the best results we can.”

He added: “It has been freezing training over the winter, so we are looking forward to a bit of sun.”

The team will also be competing in a similar event in California, the Governors Cup at the Balboa Yacht Club near Los Angeles.