The British Nautical Awards (BNA) announced the 2001 shortlist, revealing the people, products, projects and boats that have made it into the final round in the most prestigious awards in British boating.

The BNA, considered the "Oscars" of boating, recognise the best in British boating in eleven categories. The 2001 shortlist is:

YJA Yachtsman of the Year


Now in its 46th year, this Award is presented to the person whose achievement in the past year most justifies the title. It was instigated in 1955 by Sir Max Aitken and has been the premier award in British yachting ever since.

Simon Curwen - Finished 2nd overall in the Transat 6.50 (better known as the Mini Transat) single-handed race held in two stages from La Rochelle, France to Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Lanzarote to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Sailing his 21-footer, 'QDS', Simon (42) was the first of six British entrants in the fleet of sixty, the first non-French finisher and the highest placed British sailor in the Mini Transat's French history.

Ellen MacArthur - Finished 2nd in the Vendée Globe single-handed round the world yacht race, arguably the most challenging on the racing circuit, and became an instant celebrity at home and in Europe. At the age of 25, Ellen was the youngest competitor in the race and one of only two women in an entry of 24 taking part. More recent achievements include finishing 2nd, with co-skipper Alain Gautier, in 'Kingfisher-Foncia' in the Jacque Vabre Trans-Atlantic race from Le Havre to Bahia, Brazil thus securing the points necessary to win the FICO-Lacoste Skipper's World Championship. Ellen is the youngest ever sailor and first woman to win this championship, as well as being only the second non-French winner.

Ian Sanderson and Peter Dredge - In 2001, Ian and Peter have distinguished themselves by capturing a total of nine world endurance records for motor powered boats including having been the first team ever to have posted a 24 hour record. In a standard, production, Sunseeker XS2000 their achievements include becoming the first powerboat team to complete a circumnavigation of mainland Britain in under 40 hours and for setting records for the fastest circumnavigations for five and ten laps of the Isle of Wight, as well as setting and then re-taking 6, 12, 18 and 24 hour records, eventually covering 1,100 nautical miles in 24 hours.

MDL YJA Young Sailor of the Year


This Award recognises achievement and endeavour by a young sailor in any discipline of the sport. Organised by the Yachting Journalists' Association in conjunction with the Royal Yachting Association through its 13 regions, it is open to any person under the age of 19 at 31st December 2001.

John Pink (18) and Tom Weeks (17) - In an overwhelmingly successful year John and Tom, sailing in the 29er class, came 1st overall in the World Championship in Kingston, Canada in addition to successfully defending their titles at both the National and European Championships.

Mark Powell (18) - Most notably this year, Mark won the Gold Medal in the highly competitive Laser Class at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Crozon-Morgat, France. In addition, he was 1st at the Youth Nationals held in Largs, Scotland and qualified for the Gold Fleet in the Laser Standard Open Worlds in Cork. A member of the National Youth Squad, he has recently been invited to join the Olympic Development Squad.

Victoria Rawlinson (17) and Emma Rawlinson (16) - This highly competitive sister team, sailing in the 420 class, won the gold medal at the 2000 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships held in Sydney, Australia and a silver medal six months later at the 2001 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Crozon-Morgat, France. They have now joined the Olympic Development Squad in a 470.

Challenge Business Offshore Yachtsman of the Year


For outstanding performance in offshore racing under sail, defined as racing which continues for more than 24 hours and includes all long distance and passage racing as well as regular club events and series.

Jo Burchell and Lorna Graham - Winners of the double-handed class and Brunskill Trophy in the 2001 Fastnet Race. Jo and Lorna were also the 1st British boat to complete this gruelling, offshore race - sailing against fully crewed boats.

Helen Tew - Realising her lifetime dream, Helen Tew (89) along with her son Donald Tew (60), sailed across the Atlantic twice in an inspirational voyage. Helen completed the voyage in a 26ft gaff-rigged cutter 'Mary Helen' that she helped her late husband design more than 60 years ago.

Ellen MacArthur - As detailed above, in the YJA Yachtsman of the Year category.

WS Atkins Inshore Yachtsman of the Year


For outstanding performance in small boat racing under sail, including all competition in dinghies and windsurfing, day racing keel boats and sports boats.

Stuart Childerley, Simon Russell and Nick Pearson - This newly established sailing team enjoyed immediate success on board 'Bedrock' at the Mako International Etchells National and British Open Championship where they convincingly took 1st. They then went on to win the Mako Etchells World Championship showing extreme persistence and skill, at one point moving up 19 places between just two marks. 'Bedrock' was the only boat to win two races and the only boat to achieve three places in the first three during the Championship.

Victoria Rawlinson and Emma Rawlinson - As detailed above, in the MDL YJA Young Sailor of the Year category.

Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield - Currently number two in the 470 ISAF World Sailing Ranking List, Nick and Joe have had a very successful year in their class. Achievements include winning at Hyères, finishing 2nd in the World Championship at Koper in Slovenia, 2nd in the National Championship and 2nd at the SPA regatta at Medemblik, Netherlands.

Peters PLC Power Yachtsman of the Year


For outstanding performance in any type of powerboating competition such as racing, predicted log and Concours d'Elegance.

Steve Curtis - A world-class powerboat racer and legendary throttle man, Steve Curtis this year took his 7th Class I World championship title in 15 years when he throttled Bjorn Rune Gjelsten's 'Spirit of Norway' to the Time Trial World Championship. Acknowledged to be the most successful Class I driver that Britain has ever produced, Steve enjoyed success during 2001 in both time trials and the Class I Offshore World Championship in which he and Bjorn placed 3rd.

Mike Deacon, Chris Strickland and Jan Falkowski - These 'three men in a rib' were the first team in nine years to shatter the Outright Round Britain Record. The unsponsored record-breaking run was achieved in the three-year-old 'Hot Lemon', a family cruising RIB with a 300hp diesel engine.

Peter Dredge and Ian Sanderson - As detailed above, in the YJA Yachtsman of the Year category.

Sunseeker Endeavour Award


For outstanding contribution in any form of boating or the marine industry, such as service to the sport or the industry, rescues, feats of seamanship or navigation and cruising passages.

Dickie Bradbeer - For his tireless efforts to improve leisure boating for everyone on the water, his contributions to Cowes Week as well as his 21 years of continuous service to the Solent Cruising and Racing Association. Dickie's unpaid, voluntary contributions have provided enormous benefits to both racers and casual boaters alike.

The Royal Yacht Squadron - For initiating and organising the world-class celebration of the America's Cup Jubilee at Cowes.

Helen Tew - As detailed above, in the Challenge Business Offshore Yachtsman of the Year category.

Sealine Media Award


For outstanding contribution for any published work in any medium by an individual or team on any nautical subject.

20 x 20 - For innovation, creativeness and sheer will in tackling this ambitious project. Kos has pushed the boundaries of marine sports photography and, in her limited edition (1,000) collector's 10kg tome (630mm tall and opening to over one metre wide), has brought together 20 years of memorable, prize winning images cloaked appropriately in a carbon fibre cover.

www.madforsailing.com - For using the medium of the internet to provide up-to-the-minute, original and creative reporting in the sport of sailing to 'blue water professionals' and 'club racers' alike. The integrated, creative use of new media, including graphics, sound, imagery and words provides a three-dimensional view of the sport, extending its appeal to 'armchair' enthusiasts all over the world. An established source of key worldwide sailing news and features, in a single month www.madforsailing.com hosts over 50,000 unique users and receives over 750,000 page impressions.

Yachting World's coverage of the America's Cup Jubilee - The indispensable preview issue (August 2001) and inspired follow up (September 2001) will take pride of place in thousands of boat enthusiasts' homes for years to come. Taken as a complete work, Yachting World's coverage of this once in a lifetime occasion not only provided an accurate, factual preview of the yachts and personalities taking part in the Jubilee, but followed this through with front line reporting of the event itself. Readers could 'taste the salt water' and soak in the enormity of the event through the combination of choice of subject matter, photography and inspired writing by the entire Yachting World editorial team.

Motor Boat & Yachting Motorboat of the Year


For the ultimate motorboat of any size that has been launched in the market place by a British boat manufacturer.

Aqua-Star Explorer 70 - At 22 feet longer than their original Aqua-Star 48, the Aqua-Star Explorer 70 has astounded many by its sophistication and timeless design. Developed with long-haul cruising in mind, yet able to be handled by just two crew, this 70-footer combines luxury and toughness to perfection. Thoughtful, practical details make this boat stand out from the rest.

Fairline Squadron 58 - A consistently good drive has been improved upon in this new 58-foot Fairline, which has been designed specifically with long-range cruising and live-aboard capabilities in mind. Good handling and fine details on this three- to four-cabin cruiser include red night lights over the navigator's position, strong handrails on all sides, wide side decks, an oilskin locker, adjustable air vents to the helming position and illuminated light switches making this boat a perfect family cruiser with distinctive Fairline luxury.

SportRib SR9 - A superb example of a rigid inflatable boat developed especially for quick response rescue at race venues. Named 'Electrifying', the 28-foot SportRib SR9 is based on the hull of a race boat yet integrated with a stepped hull, providing unsurpassed stability at speeds of over 90mph. Carrying on the tradition of Pascoe's 'Aquatic Ferrari', SportRib SR9s can be built to order with the option of a 'deluxe pleasure deck' for leisure use.

Yachting World Sailboat of the Year


For the best ultimate sailboat of any size that has been launched in the market place by a British sailboat manufacturer.

Ker 11.3 - An impressive, fast and well designed racing boat from Race 1 that has already proved itself in the racing arena against well-established classes such as IC45s and Farr 40s. It is distinguished for its speed and style. An IRM one-design, this boat is strategically well placed and, with a simple rig configuration, a pleasure to sail; its competitiveness could prove it to be one of the most enviable and sought after sailboats this year.

Oyster 49 - The unsurpassed quality and faultless specification of an Oyster has been reproduced in their excellent new 49, maximising space while retaining the speed capability of this stunning sailboat. The Humphreys-designed hull provides spacious accommodation and the cockpit has been carefully designed to provide an excellent multi use area. For the first time, Oyster has used compound curvature in their deck styling, which has resulted in a soft, modern look for the latest addition to their range.

RS K6 - This dinghy style keelboat, the first keelboat in the RS range, has been designed to a high quality specification and has already impressed sailors with its durability and competitiveness. The one-design racer has a 200kg crew weight limit and so is a perfect choice for two to three crew, male or female, and is easy to handle on the water as well as ashore.

Honda Environmental Award


For any product or project, other than a complete boat, that is perceived to have made an outstanding contribution to the benefit of the marine environment that has been achieved or placed on the market by a British manufacturer.

Chatham Maritime Marina - A partnership project between the South East England Development Agency and Marina Developments Limited (MDL), each aspect of marina installation has undergone an assessment to investigate possible environmental impact. Environmental studies, funded by MDL, continue to assess the impact of leisure boat users on the Swale Estuary in conjunction with Medway Council.

The Crown Estate Commissioners (Marine Estates) - The Crown Estate Commissioners manage 55% of the inter-tidal zone and the seabed out to the 12-mile territorial limit. Through their Marine Estates Programme they have acted conscientiously and beyond their statutory duty to protect and enhance the marine environment, hence taking forward the environmentally sustainable use of its assets through integrated coastal and sea use management.

Mylor Yacht Harbour - Roger Graffy spearheaded the environmental renaissance of this unique Cornish haven. The newly-launched marina places the environment first, having been designed to replicate a natural harbour and blend in with the local community.

Marine Product of the Year


For an innovative product which is perceived to be a useful or attractive marine product, other than a complete boat, which has been launched in the market.

McMurdo Manoverboard Wristwatch - An innovation that could save lives. When activated this wristwatch transmits a signal on the international search and rescue emergency frequency which can be picked up by a receiver on board the yacht and significantly help to enhance rescue times. It is easy to use and designed to encourage 24-hour usage. McMurdo's continual improvement of marine safety equipment promotes self-reliance among sea goers, greatly enhancing the safety and enjoyment of the sport.

SP SPRINT System - A major breakthrough in structural composite engineering that promises to benefit boatbuilders worldwide. This groundbreaking development in moulding processes uses of a layer of fibre reinforcement either side of a pre-cast precatalysed resin film. The material facilitates faster production of thick laminate sections, and high performance structures are achievable without the use of expensive autoclaves. The void content of the resultant laminate is extremely low (typically 0 - 0.5%). SPRINT's non-impregnated dry surface has the additional benefit of improved drape and cleaner handling during processing to provide a fast and cost efficient high-tech moulding process.

Tacktick Microcompass - A self-contained, solar-powered electronic dinghy-racing compass that is a practical innovation at its best. It is lightweight, durable and easily transferable from boat to boat. Tacktick has clearly taken into account the practical needs of racing by creating a wireless, simple-to-use microcompass; its dual display clearly shows tacking angles and wind shifts from any angle and all but tells you when to tack.

Peter Nicholson, Chairman of the judging panel, commented, "We have seen more nominations than in any other year which is an indication of the constantly improving standards within the British marine industry. Not only do we have incredible sailing talent but we also have an amazing range of products and boats that compete on a worldwide level in terms of their innovation, quality and performance.

"The process of narrowing down all of the public's nominations to just three in each category was no easy task. The judging panel has put immense effort and thought into choosing those people, products, boats and projects that we feel have contributed most to the boating public."

The final winners are decided by secret ballot with results being revealed at the British Nautical Awards Ceremony on the 4th of January 2002, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Demand for tickets is higher than ever for this sell-out, black tie event. The ceremony will play host to the short-listed candidates and is a who's who of the boating world. High profile celebrities and corporate guests also attend the event, to join in recognizing and celebrating the talent and innovation in British boating.

Tickets for the Awards Presentation cost £125 including VAT and include a champagne reception, a three-course dinner with wine and entertainment. Tickets can be reserved at the BNA Ticket Desk, BMIF, Marina House, Meadlake Place, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 8BF, Tel: 01784 223602; Fax 01784 439678; Email: [email protected]. Checks should be made payable to Yachting Awards Limited. It is also possible to pay by most major credit cards.

For more information see www.britishnauticalawards.com