WORLD Youth Windsurfing champion Izzy Hamilton was at the launch of the Sport England Sportivate initiative launch at Roadford Lake last week.

She was back on the lake where she learned to sail as a role model for young people from Devon and Cornwall, at the special initiative from Sport England aimed at encouraging them to get active by offering free taster sessions in sailing and windsurfing.

The programme will see nearly £1million invested in the two counties over the next four years.

Introduced by Sport England and funded by the National Lottery, it will give 14 to 25-year-olds the chance to receive six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice.

The taster day enjoyed glorious weather at Roadford Lake, where students from Okehampton College and Launceston College were among more than 100 youngsters who tried their hands at sailing and windsurfing with qualified instructors at various South West Lakes Trust sites.

Gig rowing and kayaking were also on offer at similar come-and-try-it sessions at Tamar Lakes near Bude, Siblyback near Liskeard, Stithians near Redruth and at Wimbleball on the edge of Exmoor.

Exeter University student Izzy Hamilton from Bude, passed on some tips to the novice sailors.

She said: 'It's a great project. Getting more young people active and involved in sport is always going to be a good thing.

'You can make new friends, get involved in something you can enjoy and potentially do well in, get new skills and lead a healthy lifestyle.

'It's all really important.'

Youngsters who took part were keen to take up the opportunities offered by Sportivate.

Amanda Lawrence, 17, from Okehampton College, is hooked after her first try at windsurfing.

She said: 'It was amazing, I actually really loved it and I'm definitely going to do it again.

'People think it's really hard so they might not want to try it.

'When I first thought about coming, I was a bit scared but it's quite easy and we had a great time.'

As an additional incentive, teenagers and young adults who stick with sport will have the chance to enter a ballot for free London 2012 tickets.