A NATIONAL sailing competition takes place in the North-East this weekend.

Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club, at Hartlepool Marina, will host one of the Laser International World qualifying rounds.

Lasers are single-handed sailing dinghies sailed up to and including Olympic level. The qualifying rounds are for selecting competitors to represent the UK in the European and world championships.

This weekend's events will be in Hartlepool Bay from noon tomorrow, and from 10am on Sunday.

Martin Peacock, club events co-ordinator, said: "This is a very important event in the national sailing calendar and we are proud and delighted to be hosting it for the third time in recent years.

"We will be welcoming the very best in sailing talent, many of whom will have their sights set on competing in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing."