A TENDRING teaching assistant and experienced sailor clinched success in a prestigious water race.

Heidi Wright, 23, took to the water as part of a team competing in the East Anglian offshore racing regatta.

A former Tendring Technology College student, Heidi now works at the school and set out to inspire the youngsters by securing boating success.

On June 19 the team set off on the gruelling 200-mile race which spanned across three days.

They battled against challenging conditions to clinch the title as overall winners of the offshore racing regatta, organised each year by the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association.

Heidi, the youngest crew member, is a lifelong sailor and has been racing dinghies for the last ten years.

She said: "On the water this time it was really hard work and constantly challenging, but the adrenalin was pumping and it was great fun."

Heidi works at Tendring Technology College as a learning support assistant to youngsters with special educational needs.

She added: "By doing this it gives me the chance to inspire the students I work with and show them that PE is about extra-curricular activities too, and show them what they too can achieve outside the classroom."