Who will be Yachtsman of the Year? Shortlist announced
Gael Pawson recalls her first YJA Yachtsman of the Year Awards ceremony and looks forward to this year's event.
January 6, 2015
Probably the most prestigious award any UK sailor can receive is the Yachting Journalists' Association (YJA) Yachtsman of the Year Award, and this year the award is being sponsored by none other than us - that is boats.com (see New Yachtsman of the Year Awards sponsor is boats.com)! The great and the good of yachting can be expected to turn out for the Awards Ceremony, due to take place next week (Tuesday January 13, 2015) at Trinity House in London.
The 2013 YJA Yachtsman of the Year Awards - this year's Yachtsman of the Year shortlist is set and the winner will be announced on January 13, 2015.
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. 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.
There I got to meet the likes of Bob Fisher, undoubtedly one of the world's most accomplished yachting writers, as well as Stuart Alexander, Tim Jeffrey, Rick Tomlinson and a host of other names that were gods in my young eyes.
Then there were the sailors, heroes like Ellen MacArthur, Ben Ainslie, Tracy Edwards, Keith Musto, Shelley Jory (yes powerboat achievements are recognised as well), Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chay Blyth, Shirley Robertson to name but a few. I remember how welcoming all the established yachting writers and photographers were, and how they and the sailors took time to talk about the sport, tales from the year that had passed, and their hopes and dreams for the season ahead. It really was a magical event that filled me with even more enthusiasm and drive for my chosen profession.
When boats.com confirmed its sponsorship I was delighted the event's new sponsor was a brand I'd been working with for a number of years, and I'm sure the coming years as their sponsorship continues will see more great celebrations of our wonderful sport.
This year's Yachtsman of the Year Award shortlist includes Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Giles Scott and Miranda Merron. Seventy-five-year-old Sir Robin finished third in his class in the solo transatlantic Route du Rhum, a race in which Miranda also achieved sixth in her class. Giles Scott maintained an impressive unbeaten run in his return to Finn class sailing by securing back-to-back world titles alongside a string of other victories.
The boats.com Young Sailor of the Year Award shortlist comprises up-and-coming young talents Calum Rosie, Emma Wilson and Kamila Czartolomna. Calum was the first Scot in 12 years to win the Under 16 International Topper Sailing World Championships in 2014, whilst 15-year-old Emma won windsurfing’s under-17 and under-19 world championship titles. Meanwhile Kamila became the first girl in more than 10 years to be crowned national Honda RYA Youth RIB Champion in the 13-16 age group.
