Funding puts wind in teen’s sails

Tuesday 26 May 2020

A young sailor with his sights set on professional championships has been awarded a bursary so that he can pursue higher-level training in the sport.

13-year-old Will Dengate, who hopes to one day sail for Great Britain in the European and World Championships, has been awarded the 14th annual Jersey Clipper Bursary to pay for his further training.

The bursary is designed to assist islanders of any age to achieve a particular nautical ambition. This could be a trip on a tall ship, attending a training course, participation in a water sports competition or competing in an ocean race – anything with a maritime theme. 

With the £1,000 prize money, the Victoria College student will work towards the next level of sailing ability so that he can compete internationally.

Even at the young age of 13, Will has already made a name for himself, having become the youngest Jersey Hobie Cat helm ever, coming second in the Channel Island Championships and scoring class wins in last year’s regatta.

Pictured: The bursary was created to fund islanders' nautical ambitions.

He has recently moved up to the Olympic sailing class, Laser 4.7. 

Of his ambitions, Will said: “I am trying to get to the level at which I can qualify for the European and World championships. Earlier this year I went to Portugal for Laser training which was incredibly beneficial to my sailing but very expensive. 

“The bursary will give me the opportunity to have more training at a high standard, which is impossible to access on-island, and enable me to reach the next level of sailing ability so that I have a chance of reaching the European and World championships. I also hope to become good enough in years to come to represent Jersey in the Island Games.”

The Clipper Bursary also awarded £500 to Lizzie Ellison, a PhD student at Imperial College London, who is working towards one of sailing’s highest qualifications.

Pictured: PhD student Lizzie Ellison was the bursary's runner up. 

Studying Oceanography, Lizzie was a keen dinghy sailor at St. Catherine’s Sailing Club for many years and is now building up to the Royal Yachting Association’s Yachtmaster qualification. This involves 40 hours of theory as well as practical training cruises and a final exam.

Commenting on being the bursary’s runner-up, Lizzie said: “It is a significant financial undertaking and as a student I am hugely grateful for this award which will help with the fees of both the theory and practical courses, run in conjunction with Imperial College University Yacht Club.”