Ambitious Tauranga windsurfer Coral Headey's competition funds are receiving a $5000 boost after being awarded the Rothbury Tauranga Regional Scholarship.

At just 16-years-old, the young sportswoman was selected from more than 50 other applicants across the Bay of Plenty to receive an AMP Regional Scholarship – one of 12 regional scholarships nationwide.

Tauranga windsurfer Coral Headey. Photo: File

The scholarship allows Coral to continue 'doing her thing” on the water, with AMP providing an additional top up of up to $5000 to one of the Regional Scholarship recipients at the AMP Scholarships National Awards evening on December 4.

Rothbury's Jon O'Connor says the Coral is a 'pretty inspirational young woman”, having already achieved some incredible accomplishments in life, competitively representing New Zealand as a windsurfer at the Youth Olympic Games in China.

Coral is thrilled to be awarded one of the scholarships with a sport that puts a lot of financial pressure on her family, windsurfing for three years on borrowed equipment.

A Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club member, she has been windsurfing for nearly three years, having started sailing in Optimists at the age of seven-years-old at the Thames Sailing Club.

Through some fantastic support from TYPBC and Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy Trust, Coral has enjoyed success as the Girls National Champion two years in a row, as well as becoming Oceanic Girls' Champion this year.

'The funds will be put towards my ongoing competition, coaching and equipment costs.”

Earlier this year the teenager represented New Zealand at the Youth Olympic Games in China, in what was an 'amazing experience”

And the Olympic Games have given her the necessary motivation to pursue her next goal - to win the New Zealand trials.

'If I win, I can go on to represent the country at the ISAF Youth World Championships in Malaysia in 2015, in the RS:X Youth windsurfing class.”

'The RS:X windsurfing class is extremely competitive and requires huge commitment from both myself and my family, with the hours of training needed on the water and in the gym – plus I need to be coached and attend regattas. I train at least three times a week in the gym and aim to get 15-20 hours a week on the water.”