Oh Buoy! OTC Team Rider sums up the Youth Champs!

The Official Test Centre Team Rider Finn Knight was one of 230 of the UK’s top young talents that took part in the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships at Plas Heli, Pwllheli.

The UK Youth Champions took place last month, Finn was competing in the iQFOiL class, he achieved a prodigious fifth place.

The results are used to select the British Youth Sailing Team, who will represent Great Britain at international regattas. This includes the Youth World Championships as well as the domestic youth squad for the year ahead.

In this week's blog we hear what it was like for Finn, Oh Buoy! OTC Team Rider sums up the Youth Champs!

By Emma Maguire.

Future talent!

You placed fifth at the 2025 RYA Youth Nationals at Plas Heli, huge congratulations! What did that feel like?

Finn said: "Thank you, it was quite a tough competition with up and down conditions and a strong fleet of sailors, I’m really pleased with my final position."

Can you tell us a bit more about Day 3 big Wednesday?

Finn said: "In the morning we arrived at the event to a really light breeze.  Over the next 1.5 hours the breeze increased to around 35 knots by which time the iQ fleet were all out on the race course.  The iQ safety team made the right call at the right time to send us home to the beach.  It think its now well published what happened next on the water but, I just wanted to say that we are grateful to all of the volunteers for keeping us all safe. Someone took a photo of me (see below) on that day which captured the craziness of the conditions!"

Finn photographed on big Wednesday!

What were the conditions like overall during the competition?

Finn said: "The conditions during the competition were really mixed.  The winds ranged from 0 to 30+ knots and from all directions.  I’ve also never seen as much rain as we had that week!"

What was one of your best moments during the competition?

Finn said: "Of course I was really happy with my final result but, some of the best moments are also spending time with the other sailors whether that be on or off the water.  The sailors Hub was a great place to hang out together."

How do you prepare for a big competition like the Youth Nationals?

Finn said: "This winter I did spend a fair amount of time training on the water.  I also spent time in the gym all of which I’ve really enjoyed."

Where is your next competition?

Finn said: "I will be following the UKWA events this season (GCSE permitting of course) and the next big competition is the iQ World Championships in Brest, France in July.  The team are travelling with our coaches to this competition and staying with other nations in accommodation close to the event.  All being well, we will travel to the iQ European Championships in Sardinia at the end of October." 

What are your future plans, ultimately where would you like your windsurfing to take you?

Finn said: "My future plans are to just keep enjoying what I do, try my best, don’t give up even when things aren’t necessarily going my way.  Alongside iQ, I also love to wing and would one day like to learn to kite foil."  

The overall winners of the champs!

When you are not training on your iQfoil kit, what do you do to unwind and relax, is it winging?

Finn said: "I love to wing especially in the waves.  Overcombe (another local spot) sometimes delivers waves which is great and I’ve also really enjoyed learning to Down wind this winter with the OTC team.  I also love fishing ..."

How do you balance studying for your GCSE's and training for competitions?

Finn said: "It’s about finding the right balance really, my parents keep me on the straight and narrow! I’d like to thank my parents for their continued encouragement and  everything they do for me and also the OTC for their ongoing support - thanks so much!"

Start your youngsters on their windsurfing journey with us and who knows where it will take them, book a taster, call The OTC on 07817 717904 and jump on board a world of opportunities.