Dartmouth sailor Henry Bomby has won a place at the notoriously tough Pole Finistere training centre in Brittany, France, which is considered by many to be the top offshore sailing facility in the world.

The 21-year-old sailor will be spending the year ahead training alongside some of his greatest rivals ahead of his next season in the Figaro, a 33ft boat that he races single-handed.

He is one of only two British sailors to be training there in that class of boat.

Henry, who is currently already over in France having started his training, is looking forward to this new opportunity, saying: 'I am really excited to be here in Port la Foret, a new year and a new challenge.

'It really is a hub for sailors like me, with 30 of the best all based here in one way or another. The work put in here is what success on the water is built from.

'There is a lot to get used to, not least the language barrier, but these are exciting times for sure.'

The intense training combines classroom lectures in French on weather, navigation and sport psychology with gym sessions and racing on the water.

Henry is also working hard to find sponsorship to ensure he can be as competitive as possible come the racing season and the month-long, La Solitaire du Figaro in June.

La Solitaire du Figaro is the most competitive offshore racing circuit in the world and is made up of four legs of approximately 500nm in length.

'As I am still on the hunt for a title sponsor, I have kindly been lent a boat by a previous Figaro champion called Charles Caudrelier, who has became a bit of a mentor and coach, meaning my first few weeks training have been highly productive', he said.

'There are six previous winners of the Solitaire training at Pole Finistere, all with a different approaches to success, so it is great to pick stuff up from all of them, especially as some have 15-20 years' worth of experience on the circuit.

'To say I feel like the young newbie would be an understatement!'

The centre is also where many of this year's Vendee Globe skippers train, including Francois Gabart, the 29-year-old Frenchman who won the race on Sunday, January 27.

Henry's long-term ambition is to race single-handed around the world.

He's hoping that by learning from some of the best sailors in the world, he'll one day be able to achieve this ambition.