The RYA is backing 'Girls4Gold' - a new targeted recruitment drive masterminded by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) - to uncover hidden British female talent with the potential to rise to the podium at London 2012 and beyond.

The initiative seeks to transfer many of the 'readymade' skills and abilities of talented sporting females into targeted Olympic sports, including sailing and more specifically windsurfing, with the aim of potentially fast-tracking them towards the medal rostrums at future Olympic Games.

Athletic women aged 17-25 who have competed at county level or above in any sport are invited to apply for the scheme at www.uksport.gov.uk/girls4gold

Successful applicants will then be invited to one of three Olympic Talent Assessment events this summer where EIS sports scientists will work with elite coaches from the beneficiary sports, to provide the short-listed athletes with the opportunity to discover their potential in a world class training environment.

Women at the Olympic Games sail the Neil Pryde RS:X 8.5 windsurfer and Bryony Shaw will fly the fly for Great Britain in the event at the Beijing Games this summer.

John Derbyshire, RYA Performance Director/Racing Manager said: "Girls4Gold is a very worthy initiative that gives sports such as sailing a great opportunity to identify potential World Class performers and help them develop the physical and mental skills and abilities that could lead to them one day representing Britain at the Olympics.

"Thinking outside the box in this way to try to encourage more girls into sports they may never have previously considered is to be applauded and we are delighted sailing has been chosen to be a part of this initiative."

The female-specific Girls4Gold scheme follows on from the success of previous UK Sport/EIS talent recruitment drives, including 2007's Sporting Giants campaign, which attracted more than 3,800 applicants with more than 50 athletes progressing on to Olympic talent development programmes in three sports.

As well as sailing, five other Olympic sports – cycling, rowing, modern pentathlon, canoeing and bob skeleton – have been identified as potential recipient sports for the Girls4Gold drive.