Founder and Executive Director

TREVOR MILLAR

Where to begin! With over 40 years of experience, Trevor is a highly acclaimed coach known for his innovative coaching style, which has earned him numerous awards and honours over the years. His athletes have achieved remarkable success, including Olympic medals, World and European titles, World number one ranking, and World Sailing Youth medals.

Originally from the quaint market town of Newtownards on the outskirts of Belfast, Trevor embarked on his illustrious coaching career with the RYA. He served as the UK National Laser Coach for Team GBR, leading his team to impressive triumphs at World and European Championships. Later, he returned to his native Ireland as Olympic coach for the Barcelona Olympic Games and established the now Irish Youth Academy that inspires future generations of Irish sailors.

Trevor’s unique coaching approach led him to establish SailCoach, the first private coaching organisation in sailing. Throughout his remarkable career, he has guided sailors from various countries to an impressive 7 Olympic Games, contributing to numerous podium finishes. Despite his achievements, Trevor remembers his humble roots and is dedicated to helping talented athletes who may not otherwise have the opportunity to compete internationally.

With his unparalleled experience at the highest level of our sport, Trevor is an invaluable asset to the young sailors and up and coming coaches in SailCoach. They benefit greatly from his extensive knowledge and winning strategies, ensuring their growth and success.

Trevor’s coaching legacy is defined by his exceptional track record and his unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of sailors and coaches. His profound impact on the sport continues to inspire and motivate others.

Senior High-Performance Coach and Director

ALEXANDR DENISIUC

Alex joined SailCoach as an Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) athlete, competing in the Olympic ILCA/Laser World Cup Series. He was proud to represent his home nation of Moldova, achieving an incredible five ILCA World and seven European Championships, a first for a Moldovan sailor.

Now a highly accomplished sailing coach, Alex has reached the top of his profession through sheer dedication and a passion for the sport. He has led teams to numerous World and European Championships, delivering medals for several different nations, including Asian Games, medals. With the honour of coaching at two Olympic Games, in Rio and Tokyo, Alex’s expertise has made him a valuable asset to the SailCoach team.

In addition to his extensive practical experience, Alex has also been recognised academically with a World Sailing Training Scholarship. This opportunity further developed his skill set as a National Training Programme Manager, allowing him to put in place and manage effective and sustainable National Sail Training Programmes.

Alex has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, as well as a Diploma in Coaching and Sports Management from the National Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Moldova. He also holds a Level 4 Certificate in the Foundations of Coaching from the University of Malta. He is fluent in English and a native speaker of Russian and Romanian. Alex is a truly international coach and a great inspiration to many in the sailing community.

Chief Instructor at RMYC Sailing School

RÜYA ÇAKMAKLI

The first thing that impresses you when you meet Rüya is her passion for being on the water, and she’s able to pass that passion onto her students successfully. From Istanbul in Turkey with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Bahçeşehir, after successfully finishing her degree, Rüya travelled to New Zealand, where she took a language course in Auckland and spent her free time teaching sailing. Upon returning home, she worked for the biggest water sports company in Turkey before joining SailCoach in 2016 as Chief Instructor at RMYC Sailing School, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the industry. Rüya has also gained a lot of experience coaching Optimists, both in New Zealand and with SailCoach, and has worked alongside several world-class coaches, gaining an abundance of experience with that class. Recently Rüya has achieved success coaching in the RS Feva class, with her young athletes having podium finishes in both the European and World Championships.

Senior Performance Coach

MIŁOSZ WOJEWSKI

Miłosz has a Master’s Degree in Sailing Coaching from the Polish Academy of Physical Education and Sport. He has taken over SailCoach’s Charter Operations with the new company “Charter Boat” focused on logistic and boat charter solutions. He started sailing from an early age, working his way through a number of youth classes to completing two Olympic campaigns in the Finn class. He has been a member of the Polish Olympic Sailing Team from 2008 to 2016 and finished second at the 2011 Junior Finn Worlds. He was also a regular top 20 sailors in the Sailing World Cup regattas. When he is not sailing his Finn, he can be seen racing on iceboats where he has been a National Champion at Junior level. As well as his native Polish, he speaks English and elementary Russian.

Senior Performance Coach

CHARLIE LINSELL

Charlie’s passion for sailing was kindled during his early years as he actively sailed in various classes, including the Cadet dinghy. Progressing through his sailing journey, he transitioned to the Laser Radial and Standard classes successfully competed in national and international championships. Concurrently, Charlie pursued a degree in Sports and Exercise Sciences, refining his knowledge in areas such as physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and sports psychology. Recognising his inherent teaching abilities, Charlie ventured into the realm of personal training and sports coaching, where he continues to inspire and guide others.

During his studies, Charlie worked at the prestigious Peligoni Club in Greece, running the watersports centre for three summers. After graduating with honours, Charlie joined SailCoach at the Royal Malta Yacht Club Sailing School, where he focused on coaching ILCA, Optimist and Feva teams. He later progressed to the role of a high-performance coach, leading training camps and offering guidance to athletes from various nations.

Utilizing his expertise as a sports scientist and personal trainer, Charlie has been instrumental in assisting athletes and groups with tailored fitness programs, nutritional advice, and sports psychology. SailCoach acknowledged Charlie’s exceptional skills, entrusting him to lead training camps for the Yachting Association of India, which he visits annually. Currently, Charlie serves as the centre manager of SailCoach’s Valencia SailBase, where he continues to pursue his passion for sailing and coaching.

Apprentice Coach and SailCoach's Bosun

Lucas Nixon

Lucas was brought up in the small County Down village of Carrowdore and went to the acme Campbell College, one of Northern Ireland’s top Grammar Schools. After deciding, he preferred a life in the outdoors, and as a keen sailor, Lucas contacted SailCoach. He joined us after he finished school in the summer of 2022, and we discovered a huge talent in this young man. His knowledge of boats and engines is way beyond his years, having been brought up surrounded by keen mechanical engineers. He started sailing at Donaghadee Sailing Club and quickly moved on to join one of Northern Ireland’s premier dinghy clubs Ballyholme Yacht Club. He promptly made it into the RYANI Academy sailing ILCA 4s and represented his country internationally. We are sure that Lucas will have a bright future as one of our trusted SailCoach staff.