After training on the water since March, Adam Taylor and Daniel Baker were rewarded by topping a field of 33 boats to win the Nova Scotia under-16 double-handed sailing championship and the 420-class event at the ARK regatta in Bedford Basin earlier this month.

 "It's a little bit precedent-setting for the province. They were probably the first guys out in the province," said their 420 coach, Lesley Taylor, about the fact they were on the water so early this year.

 "Usually, junior sailing programs get going around July 1 and the kids will sail for two months, but we're trying to push off-season sailing because it makes an infinite difference."

 The duo typically races on weekends, gets Mondays off, then puts in full days the rest of the week, generally doing fitness training in the morning, then spending most of the afternoon on the water.

 Ms Taylor said it's that dedication that makes them successful.

 "They're also working on their boat constantly … and they don't waste their time during training hours doing it. They show up early in the morning or late at night or on weekends when they're off."

 What's more, they're leaders at the yacht club.

 "They help make a great environment for learning. Rather than us having to lecture and tell kids how to sail, these guys show them how to sail, and they do a pretty good job of that," said head instructor Oliver Hatheway.

 Having young sailors such as these two, along with bringing in elite instructors such as Olympians Lisa Ross and Oliver Bone, has helped the club more than double its number of boats for the junior program in the past year alone.

 "Enrolment has skyrocketed. Enrolment is almost too full," said Mr. Hatheway.

 There are currently over 70 kids in the junior program.

 "We've seen a spike not only in the quantity of sailors here, but the quality as well … across the board, we're trying to set a new benchmark for junior sailing in Nova Scotia."

 Adam and Daniel plan to attend next month's North American championships in Michigan, but their main focus is qualifying for the 2010 youth world championships in Istanbul. To do that, they'll need to be the top eligible male finishers at the mid-winter championships in Florida next February.

 "It's going to be tough. We're going to have to train really, really hard, but it's not impossible," said Adam.

 That also means plenty of long hours on the cold ocean long after the end of the traditional sailing season, but that's okay with them.

 "We'll keep sailing until it's just way, way too cold."