#youthsailing – A young Cumbrian lad is celebrating after becoming one of the youngest ever professional yacht masters, at the tender age of 18. Former Windermere School pupil, Dominic Jackson, has passed the 'professional yacht master offshore course', delivered by the North West Sports Centre on the island of Cumbrae, in Scotland. Dominic, who is described by his family as a 'natural sailor', started learning the ropes aged 10, at the International School in Qatar.

Registered disabled, having been born with only one hand, Dominic successfully completed the gruelling 18 week course, along with two other students, sailing throughout the night and until 3am up the East Coast of the Isle of Bute, with only skill and calculation to guide him; no technical assistance was permitted. Now qualified to skipper his own yacht, Dominic looks set for a future on the waves.

"We are all immensely proud of Dominic and delighted for him that he can start building a future in the field that he loves." said his father, Chris Jackson, who runs cottage letting agency, Heart of the Lakes, with his parents, Peter and Sue. "He has worked extremely hard and his qualification is an extraordinary achievement, particularly for someone so young."

"To pass this course aged 18 is very unusual. There are not many who can do it." said Cumbrae's Professional Yacht Master Instructor, Rod Smith. "The course is very intense and involves all aspects of learning, from skippering a boat, to the theoretical elements, such as navigation and meteorological testing. Dominic was an exceptional candidate and we applaud him on his achievement. Passing this aged 18, is pretty much as young as you can get!"