The great and the good of UK yachting gathered at Trinity House in London to honour the best sailors of 2014 at the boats.com YJA Yachtsman of the Year Awards.


 

“I never expected this,” said an incredulous Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as he picked up UK yachting’s most prestigious award, the boats.com YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award. It is the fourth time that Sir Robin's has won the accolade, voted on by the UK's yachting journalists, the first time being back in 1969, when he famously became the first person to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation.

 

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston wins boats.com YJA Yachtsman of the year

Ian Atkins (President boats.com), Sir Robin Knox-Johnson (Winner Yachtsman of the Year), Bob Fisher (Chairman, YJA).



 

In 2014, at the age of 75, Sir Robin finished an astonishing third in class in the famous Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race. It was an achievement that proves sailing really is a sport for all ages. Accepting the award, Sir Robin said: “At last I’ve caught up with Sir Ben Ainslie having now won my fourth award. The other two nominees have performed fantastically and both deserved to win – so I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.” The presentation was made by boats.com's president Ian Atkins and Bob Fisher, Chairman of the YJA.

Sir Robin won the award ahead of his fellow shortlisted nominees, Miranda Merron and Giles Scott (see Who will be Yachtsman of the Year? Shortlist announced).

 

 

 

Emma Wilson winner Young Sailor of the Year 2014

Emma Wilson winner of the boats.com YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award 2014.



The boats.com Young Sailor of the Year Award went to 15-year-old windsurfer Emma Wilson. Emma wasn't able to make the ceremony due to a mock exam, but she accepted it as she came off the water from an early morning training session in Weymouth.

A Special Award was also presented to Iain Percy for his drive and vision in staging the amazing event Bart's Bash (see Bart’s Bash breaks Guinness World Record). It was accepted on his behalf by Sir Ben Ainslie, who attended the lunch with his wife Georgie. Ben commented on the special legacy left by Andrew Bart Simpson and the Bart's Bash, which, he said, "was a inspiration to us all."

Written by: Gael Pawson
Gael Pawson is the editor of Yachts & Yachting Magazine and the founder of Creating Waves. A keen racer, she has sailed all her life, and started writing about the subject whilst studying journalism at university. Dinghies and small keelboats are her first loves, but she has cruised and raced a huge variety of boats in locations across the world.