More accolade for Ellen

Dame Ellen MacArthur wins Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year for third time

Dame Ellen MacArthur secured the Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year award last night for smashing the record to be the fastest, non-stop, solo sailor round the world. It was a feat that made Ellen headline news around the globe and captured the imagination of the public worldwide. This is the third occasion Ellen has won this award, previously for her performance in the 1998 Route du Rhum and then for her second place in the 2000 Vendee Globe. While impressive, Ben Ainslie has received the award four times: it in 1999 for winning everything in the Laser class, in 2002 for the same reason but in the Finn and in 2001 and 2004 as part of the British Olympic Team.

The three young sailors were awarded the Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Award: Craig Paul (17 from Duror and a sailor at the Lochaber Yacht Club), Sam Coombs (15 from Clevedon, member of the Clevedon Sailing Club) and James Hopson (16, from Wrexham and a member of the Shotwick Lake Sailing Club), were awarded the for an amazing act of bravery and seamanship - showing courage, resilience, physical and mental strength.

Sailing at the Scottish 29er Championships on Loch Lomond in September, the three boys rescued Nell Hardie from certain death while out sailing their 29ers after the race. Nell was sailing with Craig Paul when their boat capsized, trapping her underneath with the trapeze wire wrapped round her neck, and strangling her. During the incident, the boys kept their heads, remained calm and handled the situation efficiently, managing to bring Nell safely back to shore and resuscitate her, before she was taken to hospital. If the boys had not acted so promptly Nell would have suffered severe trauma and probably would not have survived.

Both awards recognise British sporting excellence in power or sail and acknowledge achievements, such as breaking a world record, a phenomenal win, overcoming adversity, or showing exceptional bravery and courage.

Finalists for Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year included Ben Ainslie OBE, described as ‘Britain’s greatest racing sailor’; and Shelley Jory and Libby Keir, this year’s British Honda 225 hp Powerboat Champions.

Finalists for Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year were James Rusden and Erin Clark, for winning the 2005 Cadet Under 18 World Championships and 18 year old Giles Scott from Cambridgeshire, a single-handed dinghy sailor racer in the Laser Class.

Both awards were announced this evening at the IPC Media Marine Awards at Old Billingsgate.

The Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year title holders will be at the London Boat Show, at 11am on Saturday 7 January 2006 when the 13 RYA regional winners (automatically nominated for Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year) will be awarded. RYA Regional Winners:

Eastern: Giles Scott
East Midlands: Dylan Fletcher
Northern Ireland: John Beatty
North East: Bruce Carnaby
North West: Tim Lowe
Scotland: Craig Paul, Sam Coombs, James Hopson
Southern: James Rusden
South East: Patrick Liddicoat
South West: James Clark
Thames Valley: Claire Lasko
Wales: Thomas Mallindine
West Midlands: Alison Young
Yorkshire and Humberside: Thomas Gillard