About fin cochrane Yorkshire Lad Sailing
MY STORY
I am an ultra keen 16 year old British Youth ILCA 7 (Laser Standard) sailor. Passionate about sailing, I am absolutely determined to be the best sailor I can be!
Having discovered sailing in August 2020, when completing my Scout Adventure Challenge, I was hooked. I progressed from novice sailor aged 11 to European competitor aged 15.
A Yorkshire lad; Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club is my Home Club.
I am hugely grateful to the key people who have supported me on my sailing journey. The legends at Yorkshire Dales, who inspired, coached and supported me right at the beginning. As well as the first class coaches who I have worked with since.
MY COMMITMENT
100% committed to being the best sailor I can be, I eat, breathe and sleep sailing. I sail every weekend, on summer Wednesday evenings and on as many school holidays as I can.
I train regularly with ♦️ Coach / Mentor Charlie Linsell, at the Performance Academy, at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.
I train and race regularly with 💪 Coach Pablo Marí. I am proud to have a place on the Real Club de Regatas de Alicante (RCRA) ILCA Youth Race Team, in Spain, with Pablo.
Taking my gym and cycling fitness training seriously, with guidance from an expert, has made a huge difference to my sailing performance.
MY GOALS
Aged 15, I qualified for, and competed in
the 2024 Ireland and the 2025 Portugal ILCA 6 Youth European Championships.
I turned 16 in April this year. I competed in the ILCA 6 class for two years, until July 2025. Over the Summer of 2025 I made the transition into the ILCA 7 class. I am currently working hard to adapt my skills and build my strength to meet the demands of the larger rig.
This season I will compete locally and nationally in the UK, and internationally in Spain and Italy. Towards the end of the season I will be competing at the European EurILCA Europa Cup racing regattas in Spain and in Italy.
My goals are:
• To take my time, in 2025 and 2026, to switch up to sailing the ILCA 7 competitively.
• To qualify for, and to compete in the 2027 ILCA 7 U21 European Championships.
FIN COCHRANE Yorkshire Lad Sailing SUCCESS SO FAR
I am in my fifth year of sailing. After sailing my ILCA 4 for a year, I switched up to an ILCA 6, at Easter in 2023. I am super proud of the progress I made in the ILCA 6:
ILCA 6 YOUTH (15-18) EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
• In August 2024, in Ireland (aged 15) I was placed 39th in Emerald fleet.
• In April 2025, in Portugal (aged 15) I jumped up 41 places, and was 53rd in Bronze Fleet.
ILCA UK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
• In August 2023, at Hayling Island (aged 14) I was placed 35th in the Silver Fleet and 92nd Overall.
• In August 2024, at Weymouth (aged 15) I was 48th in Gold Fleet and 48th Overall. Having made 44 places improvement since the previous year’s Nationals, I was the most improved male in the ILCA 6 fleet.
ILCA UK NATIONAL OPEN (QUALIFIER) RACING EVENTS
• In September 2023, at Paignton (aged 14) I was placed 28th in Silver Fleet and 65th Overall.
• In September 2024, at Plas Heli (aged 15) I was 17th in Gold Fleet and 17th Overall.
FIN COCHRANE YORKSHIRE LAD SAILING CURRENT PROGRAMME
THE PERFORMANCE ACADEMY
AT WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY
I first trained with ♦️ Coach Charlie Linsell in February 2024, in Valencia. Since then I have trained with him regularly, in Weymouth and abroad. Charlie supported me at several European racing events during the 2024 / 2025 season.
In May 2024 I was very fortunate to
THE PERFORMANCE ACADEMY
AT WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY
I first trained with ♦️ Coach Charlie Linsell in February 2024, in Valencia. Since then I have trained with him regularly, in Weymouth and abroad. Charlie supported me at several European racing events during the 2024 / 2025 season.
In May 2024 I was very fortunate to be placed with Charlie on the Performance Academy Mentee Programme. This has been a game changer for me. Charlie knows how I think and his support is very personal and relevant to me.
I have also been working with 🤜 Coach & Senior ILCA 7 sailor Alastair Brown, at the Performance Academy.
It is incredibly valuable to have input from a current Senior ILCA 7 sailor.
REAL CLUB DE REGATAS DE ALICANTE IN SPAIN
I first trained with 💪 Coach Pablo Marí in February 2024, in Valencia. I also trained with him in Dubai and in Alicante.
In August 2025, I was thrilled to be given a place on the Real Club De Regatas De Alicante (RCRA) ILCA Youth Race Team, with Pablo.
This is a fantastic opportunity for me: to tr
REAL CLUB DE REGATAS DE ALICANTE IN SPAIN
I first trained with 💪 Coach Pablo Marí in February 2024, in Valencia. I also trained with him in Dubai and in Alicante.
In August 2025, I was thrilled to be given a place on the Real Club De Regatas De Alicante (RCRA) ILCA Youth Race Team, with Pablo.
This is a fantastic opportunity for me: to train and race in Spain, regularly, with a brilliant ILCA coach and team, at this fabulous club!
FIN COCHRANE YORKSHIRE LAD SAILING rya DINGHY INSTRUCTOR
QUALIFICATIONS
In August 2025 I qualified as an RYA Dinghy Instructor.
I have the following relevant, up to date RYA qualifications:
- Power Boat 2
- Safety Boat
- First Aid
- Safe And Fun.
EXPERIENCE
I have experience shadow instructing on two RYA courses at the Andrew Simpson Centre in Portland :
- RYA Adult Level 1/2
- RYA Child Stage 4.
This summer I completed two weeks of work experience, with children from Nursery age to Year 6, in a Primary School in Bradford.
GIVING BACK
There are a lot of people in sailing who have been really good to me. It was volunteers who taught me to sail.
I believe it is important to give back to the sailing community, to help make sure that others can have some of the amazing experiences that I have had.
I would love to do some dinghy instructor work soon.
TRUE TO THE BRITISH YOUTH SAILOR CORE VALUES
I believe in and am true to the five core values that all British Youth Sailors are expected to demonstrate:
- I am passionately ambitious; I strive to be the best I can be.
- I am curious; I am fascinated with the process of learning.
- I have courage and determination; I never give up.
- I take ownership; I take responsibility.
- I show respect and I have integrity; I do the right thing.