IT’S already been a year to savour on the water for Weymouth sailor Dan Whiteley but 2016 could be set to end on high after he was shortlisted for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

Earlier this year the 18-year-old added to his growing medal collection with a silver at the Laser Radial Youth European Championships in Estonia, backing up the bronze he claimed at the Youth World Championships in 2015.

Another podium finish at the 2016 edition of the Worlds would not be forthcoming as he narrowly missed out on the medals with a fourth-place finish.

But Bangor-born Whiteley is undoubtedly a star on the rise and this summer relocated from home to move close to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to further pursue his sailing dream, while his latest nomination demonstrates the extent to which he has made an impact.

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 with double Olympic medallist Tom Daley the inaugural winner, with six of the ten recipients competing at the Rio Games this summer.

And Whiteley is now in line to join such illustrious company as one of ten nominees selected from over 1,100 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 different sports.

The winner will be presented at the charity’s annual SportsBall on November 24 and Whiteley admits following in the footsteps of previous sailing winners Andrew Brown and Emma Wilson would be something to savour.

“I feel really proud to be on the list, especially with the names of people who have won before,” he said.

“I was really chuffed when I found out I had been nominated, it’s not often that sailing gets such recognition.

“It’s my dream to be an Olympian one day so I’d love to follow in the footsteps of some of the winners.

“This year I finished second at the Youth European Championships which was pretty good and one of my biggest achievements.

“I dropped down to fourth at the Worlds which I was not as happy about as I had got a bronze the previous year but I will try and put that right next time around.”

Whiteley spent the summer glued to the television keeping a keen eye on proceedings in the sailing competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

At just 18 years of age, next year’s Games in Tokyo may yet come too soon for him but the rising star intend to try and throw his name into the ring.

“I tried to watch as much of the sailing at the Olympics as I could,” he added.

“I’m going to be gunning for Tokyo 2020 and I will give it my best shot although I am still fairly young and Nick Thompson who went to Rio is 30. It does take a while to get to that level but I want to give him a good run.

“I moved to Weymouth at the end of the summer. I’ve had long lengths of time away from home but this is the first time I’ve been living away permanently but it’s going well. I love being at sea, it’s that sense of freedom.”

The winner of SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award will be revealed at the charity’s 40th anniversary SportsBall in London on Thursday 24 November.

All funds raised from the SportsBall helps to support the next generation of British athletes. Please visit www.sportsball.org.uk for tickets.