JACK Cookson has his sights set on the top step of the podium at next year’s Under-21 World Championships.

The 19-year-old Dorchester sailor has had a successful season so far in the Laser Standard class, with many learning curves

At the UK Laser Association’s (UKLA) Qualifier in March, he finished at the top of the fleet at the Stokes Bay Sailing Club event.

He also finished second at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy qualifier leaving him first overall in the UK Spring Qualifier Series.

Despite disappointment at finishing fourth at the Youth National Championships, he said: “It was not where I wanted to finish but I took a lot of learning from it.”

Over the summer, Cookson achieved a string of fantastic results on the world stage.

At the Poland Europa Cup, the talented teen scored third overall as well as sixth place overall at the Warnemunde Europa Cup

Jack found competing abroad beneficial and said: “At the Laser Under-21 European Championships, I finished seventh while at the Under-21 World Championships, I ended in 29th.

“I learnt a lot from these events and hope to use the knowledge gained to ensure I’m on the top step of the podium at next years under-21 Worlds and under-21 Europeans.”

More recently, Cookson competed in the UKLA Qualifier event at South Shields where he placed in fourth.

On the UK ladder, he currently sits in third place overall.

Adding to his fantastic performance at South Shields, the youngster won the Stokes Bay Grand Prix event scoring a first place in all of the four races.