06 July 2007 ~ Nominations for the prestigious Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year and Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year awards open at 12.30pm on Friday 14 September, on the Raymarine stand G088 at the Southampton Boat Show. Dee Caffari (current Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year) and Katie Miller (current Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year) will be among those opening the nominations.
The general public are invited, and encouraged to complete nomination forms, entering candidates who they believe should be awarded for their achievements. Nominations can range from a well-known figure in the yachting or power boating world, to a commendable member of a boating club.
Members of the Yachting Journalists’ Association, the RYA, British Marine Federation, and many others involved in organising or supporting British boating, yachting, sailing and power boating will also be on Raymarine’s stand to enter their nominations, along with visitors to the Southampton Boat Show.
Both 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.
The Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year title is currently held by Dee Caffari who won the award 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. Katie Miller scooped the Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year award for her single-handed circumnavigation of the UK in her boat Elektra in 2006. 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.
It’s quick and easy for anyone to enter nominations. From 14 September nominations can be entered directly from http://www.raymarine.com/ and http://www.yja.co.uk/. Alternatively pick up a nomination form at the Southampton Boat Show, sailing clubs nationwide, or from RYA affiliated clubs.
Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year and Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year will be announced in January 2008.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
-
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 2007. Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year awards British youngsters aged 18 and under (as at 31 December 2007), in possession of a British passport (or are immediately eligible to receive a British passport), who have made a significant impact on youth sailing.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
The winners of both awards are nominated by the public and elected by the votes of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA).
-
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.
-
Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year receives a trophy and Raymarine goodies.
-
Raymarine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of marine electronics for the recreational marine market.
For further information contact Chloe Bartle, UK Marketing Coordinator, +44 (0)23 9269 3611 Ext. 1395, email: chloe.bartle@raymarine.com or Alice Driscoll at ADPR, Tel +44 (0)1935 826451, Fax +44 (0)1935 826551 or by email: alice.driscoll@adpr.co.uk.
This text can be downloaded from http://www.adpr.co.uk/. For high res images please email: info@raymarine.com.
July 2007 (RM437)
