Student sails into Youth America’s Cup squad

Leo Wilkinson, a final-year Yacht Design and Production student from High Wycombe, combines his university studies with elite-level sailing, supported by Solent’s Sport Excellence Programme. His selection marks a significant milestone in a sailing journey that started on the Thames, took him to Solent University and has already seen him achieve international success.

Leo’s passion for sailing started at the age of nine after reading Swallows and Amazons. “I grew up near the Thames and saw boats, and persuaded my mum to get me sailing lessons,” he says. Since then, he has gone on to win a Youth World Championship silver medal and secure a place on the British team squad, with his Youth America’s Cup selection now adding to an impressive list of achievements.

Much of Leo’s current training takes place on high-performance simulators that replicate the AC40 foiling yachts used in the competition. As he prepares for the next stage of his career, Leo is making full use of Solent’s specialist facilities hone his skills.

“Lots of simulator time has been key,” Leo explains. “It’s completely realistic to the actual boat. Alongside time on the simulators in Weymouth, I’ve been able to use the facilities at Solent University to run the programme, which means I can practise sailing the AC40s while staying on top of my studies.”

Later this year, he hopes to begin training camps in Naples on the water, before potentially committing full-time to the programme from April, subject to further selection in October.

Solent’s Yacht Design and Production course has played a central role in Leo’s development, both on and off the water. Giles Barkey, Course Leader, says:

“We’ve supported Leo while he’s been studying yacht design and production at Solent University. At the same time, he has been part of the elite sailing team going abroad to perfect his skills.

“While he’s been here, he’s also been able to use all of our technology to demonstrate his abilities to design boats, as well as being able to get the sailing simulators up to practice-ready level in time to join the Youth America’s Cup team.”

Leo credits the University’s Sport Excellence Programme with helping him balance the demands of high-performance sport and academic study.

“The programme has been a massive for me. I’ve had academic flexibility with extensions and deferrals around events and support that mirrors what you’d get from a national governing body,” he says. “Having that support here at University instead of having to travel for it saves a huge amount of time.”

Kelly Simm, Athlete Support Officer for the Sport Excellence Programme, praises Leo’s contribution both as an athlete and a leader. She says:

“Leo has been a brilliant member of the Sport Excellence Programme during his time at Solent University. This year in particular, he has shown exceptional leadership in his role as co-Athlete representative, working closely with both myself and fellow representative Olivia Venditto to ensure student voices are heard.

“We’re incredibly excited about his selection and look forward to cheering him on from afar after he graduates.”

Reflecting on his time at Solent, Leo says the close-knit nature of his course has been a highlight. “You work closely together on projects that are directly related to sailing. It’s not an easy course, but that’s what makes it rewarding.”

Looking ahead, Leo hopes to turn his passion into a professional sailing career, with ambitions of competing at the highest level.

“My aim is to become a professional sailor, go to the Olympics and compete in the America’s Cup, and win medals,” he says. “I’ll be aiming for Brisbane 2032.”

Alongside his sporting ambitions, Leo plans to use his degree to support a long-term career in the maritime industry, with interests in yacht design, surveying and coaching within the British Sailing Squad.