UK Yachtsman of the Year Shortlist Announced
It's that time of year on the other side of the Atlantic too.
In the US, the highest award for competitive sailors are the annual Rolex Yachtsman/Yachtswoman of the Year awards. In the UK, every aspiring sailor looks up to the winner of the annual Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA) Yachtsman of the Year Award—and every junior sailor wants to be considered for the Young Sailor Award. This year both British awards are being sponsored by boats.com (see New Yachtsman of the Year Awards sponsor is boats.com on boats.com UK). That makes our UK editor Gael Pawson proud.
The Yachtsman of the Year award (left) was established by Sir Max Aitken in 1955; the Young Sailor Award was first presented in 1993. Two sailors have won both awards: Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie. Photos courtesy Barry Pickthall PPL
"The reason that the award, and its sister award the YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award, hold so much prestige is that they are both decided by the biggest names in yachting journalism, across all kinds of publications," Gael writes. "When I was a young writer, just getting accepted as a member of the YJA felt like an amazing achievement, let alone going along to my first Awards Ceremony."
At that first ceremony, the young aspiring writer was well-received by the veterans. "It really was a magical event that filled me with even more enthusiasm and drive for my chosen profession." (Read the full article on boats.com UK.)
Looking ahead to next week's ceremony, Gael's also excited about the shortlist of potential winners—names that are recognizable on this side of the pond as well: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Giles Scott and Miranda Merron. Not so familiar—though that will undoubtedly change over the next few years—are the shortlisted names for the boats.com Young Sailor of the Year Award: Calum Rosie, Emma Wilson and Kamila Czartolomna.
Like Gael, I can't wait to see who wins.
