Young sailing star Jess Eales found dead days after her 17th birthday 

Young sailing star Jess Eales found dead days after her 17th birthday

Talented sailor\'s body was found a fortnight after she placed 11th at  Youth Sailing World Championships in Portugal.

A talented teenage girl hailed as one of Britain’s best young sailors has been found dead in woodland - the day after her 17th birthday.

The body of Jess Eales was found in the New Forest, Hampshire, around a fortnight after she placed 11th at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Portugal.

The talented sailor competed against more than 365 of the world’s Olympic hopefuls from 63 nations, describing it as ‘the biggest week of her career’.

In April she also won a gold medal at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Youth National Championships in Weymouth and Portland.

Her tragic death is not being treated as suspicious and the news has rocked the sailing community in her hometown of Lymington, Hants.

Friends of the popular teenager have written heartfelt tributes on her Facebook page, where Jess uploaded a smiling selfie the day she died.

Jack Gooderidge said: “This news is heartbreaking to hear.

“I don’t know anyone who had a bad word to say about Jess. Rest well, thoughts are with the friends and family.”

Anna Prescott wrote: “The four years I spent sailing with you were definitely the best four years of my life.

“We made so many great memories together and I would not have wanted to with anyone else.

“I definitely would not have changed them for anything.

“You were so inspirational and had a great future ahead of you.

“I will never forget you and you are, and always will be, missed so much.”

Billy Matthews said: “Jess. You were amazing, top of the class every time, always the best at whatever you tried.

“I’m just so shocked, whenever I think about you my heart sinks.

“There are no words, I’m truly speechless, you were always the perfect person.”

Emma Barnett added: “Rest in Peace Jess. I will always remember you for the happy smiley girl you were.”

RYA youth racing manager Mark Nicholls said: “The RYA is aware of the sad passing of British Youth Sailing Squad member Jessica Eales.

“She was a young sailor who showed promising talent which can now unfortunately never be fulfilled.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”

Jess was also a member of Royal Lymington Yacht Club (RLYC).

She was included in the club’s roll of honour earlier this year for the fourth time, following in the footsteps of Olympic champion sailor Sir Ben Ainslie.

Club commodore Phil Lawrence added: “This is a tragedy and we are giving her parents all the time, space and privacy they need at this time.”

Jess, who was a student at Brockenhurt College in the New Forest, Hants, learned to sail in 2009 and was a member of Hayling Island Sailing Club.

She competed in the RS Feva XL class, before moving into the high performance 29er skiff class.

She also spent a year competing in the double-handed 29er and then made the transition into the multi-hull catamaran Spitfire class.

She was then among 10 Brits to compete in the championships in Portugal, and took part in the mixed multihull SL16 class alongside helm Oli Greber, a bronze medallist in the same event the previous year.

Jess was found in woodland in Sway, Hants, at around 9.30am on Thursday, July 31.

She turned 17 on July 30. Police attended the scene and a spokesman confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Officers have passed on a file to the coroner and an inquest will be opened in due course.

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