Swanage sailor Sam Whaley insists he is ready to test himself at the highest level as he bids to make waves in the senior ranks next year.

This year has shown that 18-year-old Whaley is ready to make the step up, having finishing first in all bar one of his domestic under-19 laser events, as well as finishing seventh at the World Championships.

And that is just as well as next year Whaley, who picked up the sport at Swanage Sailing Club, will be rubbing his shoulders with the great and the good as he makes the step up to the senior ranks.

This doesn’t mean that he will be shying away from the under-21 scene, but Whaley is champing at the bit to improve his skills.

“Next year I want to get a medal or top-ten finish at the Worlds or Europeans at under-21 level,” he said.

“I also want to keep developing as a sailor and keep on learning like I have in the last few years."

“Next year will be my first at senior level and I am still competing at under-21 level because I want to maximise my potential."

“Next year it is just about experiencing what it is like at senior level and trying to learn as much as possible.”

Whaley was speaking at the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop at Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing in Portsmouth.

More than 20 of the country’s brightest athletes attended on Tuesday, where they were offered education sessions on issues such as nutrition and interview techniques, and given mentoring by former Olympic cyclist Bryan Steel and ex-England rugby union player David Flatman.

Former Poole Grammar School pupil Whaley added: “The support from the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport has been phenomenal.

“Over the summer I have improved my performance by an amazing amount and I am now ranked first in the country at under-19 level and the funding has allowed me to go to more events than ever which has helped me improve my sailing."

“It has benefitted me enormously and being on this programme gives me so much confidence.”

Sam Whaley attended the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop, mentored by Land Rover Ambassador David Flatman and Sportsaid Patron Bryan Steel. For more information visit sportsaid.org.uk.