Edwards presents the awards

Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year awards to be announced at London Boat Show

Tracy Edwards MBE is to announce the winners of the Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year and Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Awards at the Schroders London Boat Show. The announcement will take place on the Inland Waterway central stage, North Hall, at midday, on Thursday 8 January 2004.

Among Edwards many accolades - skipper of the first all female crew to successfully complete the Whitbread Round the World Race, awarded an MBE for her services to yachting, author of one of the best-selling sailing books, Maiden and more recently Living Every Second - Tracy Edwards was also the first woman to achieve Yachtsman of the Year, in 1989, so it's fitting she should be returning to centre stage to award the best in the field.

The Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award recognises British sporting excellence, for power or sail. The Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Award recognises endeavour and achievement by young British sailors. Youngsters aged 19 or under who have made a significant impact on youth sailing - overcoming adversity, showing exceptional courage, or simply doing good works on or off the water.

In addition to the nominations received from members of the public and the Yachting Journalists Association (YJA), the Royal Yachting Association has put forward winners from each of their 13 RYA regions for the Raymarine 'Young Sailor of the Year' Award.

The Yachtsman of the Year list of past winners includes the great names in yachting - Eric Hiscock, Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Edward Heath, Ellen MacArthur and Tracy Edwards. The current holder of the Yachtsman of the Year title is Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie.