A teenage sailor has been named the top cadet at a national sailing academy.

Jourdan Swindon, 18, a former pupil at Westcliff High School for Boys, has just completed the first phase of his professional yachting cadetship.

Having completed the course, the teen has come away with two awards from the United Kingdom Sailing Academy.

Jourdan achieved the award for 2016’s top cadet, as well as the most outstanding achievement and attitude, at the graduation ceremony held at the academy, on the Isle of Wight, earlier this month.

The 18-year-old and fellow cadet Alex Warrington, also 18, who are both members of Thorpe Bay Yacht Club, also achieved awards for academic achievement during the ceremony.

Mum Linzi Swindon, 51, of Maplin Way North, Thorpe Bay, said: “It’s all quite exciting. I’m immensely proud of him.

“He became the top cadet out of 28 cadets, which I thought was really good. He got the trophy which was really lovely.”

Both the boys are flying out to Nice, France, this week in search for work on a Superyacht, luxury commercial yachts which are professionally crewed around the clock.

Mrs Swindon added: “Jourdan is now going off on the second phase of his professional yachting cadetship, to work in the super yacht industry for a year, before returning to complete phase three.

“We are really excited about it. He’s a very keen sailor.”