Kai Marks Dasent, 14, represented St. Vincent at the prestigious 2025 UK Sailing Nationals held in Pwllheli, Wales, from Aug. 9 to 15.
The event featured a highly competitive fleet of 110 sailors for six days of racing.
Sailing conditions ranged from zero wind to 25mph over the week, testing the abilities of all the sailors.
Marks Dasent secured 8th place in the Under-17 category silver fleet, a notable achievement for such a young and relatively new competitor.
Marks Dasent began sailing this class of boat, the ILCA 6, in April 2024. He, therefore, took advantage of three days of training in Pwllheli ahead of the event.
The training was instrumental in helping him adapt to the colder conditions and unfamiliar venue.
Reflecting on the experience, he said:
“I had to wear a lot more clothing. It was a lot colder than I’m used to,” Marks Dasent said.
“I’ve been training this summer and it was good to put that training into practice. I really loved racing in such a big fleet and learned lots from observing other sailors.”
His performance stands out not only for his age but also for the rapid progress he has made in just a few months.
“It is a promising sign of his potential in competitive sailing and a proud moment for St. Vincent, as he continues to gain international experience, as part of his Olympic pathway,” a press release said.
A great achievement by any standard. Yiu made all Vincentians proud. Well done.
What an incredible week of sailing in Pwllheli! Huge congratulations to Kai Marks Dasent on a truly impressive performance. To finish 8th in the U-17 Silver Fleet in a field of 110 of the UK’s best sailors is no small feat, especially for a sailor of just 14.
Watching the conditions change from complete drifters to full-on 25mph planning conditions was a masterclass in adaptability, and Kai handled it all with a maturity beyond his experience. You could really see the three days of pre-event training paying off; he looked confident and in control despite the cold and the unfamiliar waters.
This is a massive achievement for him and a proud moment for SVG sailing on the international stage. The Olympic pathway is real, and Kai is clearly on it. Excited to see where he goes next