09 January 2007 ~ Today, Dee Caffari won the prestigious title of Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year - making it a double for the ladies, following Katie Miller taking the title of Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year (announced at the London Boat Show on Saturday 6 January).
British round the world sailing heroine, Dee Caffari was presented with the coveted award, Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year, for the world record she set as the first woman to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world against prevailing winds and currents. For Dee the world challenge was a long-held ambition. Having fulfilled her desire to be involved in round the world yacht racing, by skippering a yacht in the Global Challenge, she set sail on a more personal voyage, the Aviva Challenge - her 178 day solo circumnavigation. Departing in November 2005, Dee arrived back a hero in May 2006 to a triumphant
homecoming into Southampton.
Lady Pippa Blake presented Dee with her prestigious trophy at the awards ceremony, arranged by members of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA), held at The Painted Hall, The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Finalists for the prestigious title included 470 World Champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis, the first British team to win the 470 World Championship since 1988; and Steve Curtis, who has won an unbelievable eight Class 1 World Championships and is considered the best international powerboat racer of all time – Steve is a previous Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year title holder.
Following nominations by the general public and Royal Yachting Association affiliated clubs,
the winner was selected by the voting of the YJA members.
Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year: Katie Miller was awarded Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year at the London Boat Show on Saturday 6 January 2007. Katie, who is studying Yacht Manufacture and Surveying at Southampton Solent University, wins the award for her single-handed circumnavigation of the UK in her boat Elektra earlier this year. Her inspirational three-month voyage raised funds for The Ellen MacArthur Trust to enable even more children suffering with cancer to experience the thrills and beauty of sailing. Katie’s initial plans were formulated in 2004 when she passed her Day Skipper course in Menorca – after two years of hard work she successfully completed her challenge.
Notes to Editors:
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Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year and Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year
awards recognise British sporting excellence in power or sail and acknowledge
achievement - such as breaking a world record, a phenomenal win, overcoming
adversity, or showing exceptional bravery and courage.
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Dame Ellen MacArthur is the outgoing Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year title
holder. Craig Paul, Sam Coombs and James Hopson are the outgoing Raymarine
Young Sailor of the Year.
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The Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year award is open to any British resident or
passport holder who has made an outstanding achievement under sail or power
during 2006. Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year awards British youngsters aged 18
and under (as at 31 December 2006), in possession of a British passport (or are
immediately eligible to receive a British passport), who have made a significant
impact on youth sailing.
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Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year award was initiated in 1955 by Sir Max
Aitken and now bears the names of the greatest achievers in British yachting circles
over the past five decades. Previous winners include Eric Hiscock, Sir Francis
Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Edward Heath and Tracy
Edwards, together with Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie who have both won the
award twice.
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Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year receives the prestigious Yachtsman of the
Year trophy, a silver navigation buoy mounted on a sea of crystal, which was
commissioned by the late Sir Max Aitken.
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Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year award was first presented in 1993. Early
winners include Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie - who both went on to win the
Yachtsman of the Year title.
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The winners of both awards are nominated by the public and voted on by members
of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA).
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In addition to votes from members of the public for Raymarine Young Sailor of the
Year, over 1,700 RYA affiliated clubs have the opportunity to nominate. Plus, the
RYA puts forward winners from each of its 13 regions as nominations for the
Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year.
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Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year receives a trophy and Raymarine goodies.
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Raymarine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of marine electronics for the
recreational marine market.
For further Raymarine information contact Chloe Bartle, Raymarine Marketing Co-ordinator, at +44 (0)23 9269 3611 Ext. 1395 or chloe.bartle@raymarine.com; or Alice Driscoll ADPR, Tel +44 (0)1935 826451 or Fax +44 (0)1935 826551 or by email at alice.driscoll@adpr.co.uk
January 2007 (RM401)
