ANNABEL VOSE AND mEGAN bRICKWOOD WIN the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the year award

Annabel Vose (17) and Megan Brickwood (16) from Southampton were presented with the prestigious YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award for 2011 at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show on Saturday 7 January 2012. The award was presented by Skandia Team GBR’s Iain Percy OBE.

Annabel and Megan started 2011 by winning the Ladies World Title in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the 420 World Championships at just 16 years of age and despite having suffered a broken mast in one race.  They then went on to win Silver and were 1^st female crew at the Flanders Youth Regatta and won the Bronze medal at the 2011 Open 420 Junior European Championships.

The other finalists for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year were Elliot Hanson.  Elliot produced outstanding performances last summer. The 17 year old sailor from Macclesfield sealed the U21 World Laser Radial Bronze medal and U21 European Laser Radial title at the 2011 World and European Laser Radial Mens and Standard Junior Championships.  Two weeks later he went on to secure a World and European silver medal at the 2011 World and European Laser Radial Youth Championships.  Ben Jelf.  At the age of just 11, Ben not only retained his two British titles from 2010 but has also received international recognition of the highest level by claiming both a UIM World and European Powerboat Championship title in just his third year of racing. At Coniston Powerboats Records Week, Ben also became Britain’s youngest World Powerboat Speed Record holder.  At the same time he managed to raise over £2,000 for Everyman Cancer. 

Annabel and Megan were amongst the 13 RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year winners who are voted for by the RYA affiliated sailing clubs.  These young sailors have made a significant impact on youth sailing, ranging from Gold medal achievements and overcoming adversity, to the huge amount of hard work and effort they give back to their clubs. Ben had been nominated direct to the YJA for his achievements.

Peter Cook President of the YJA presented the RYA Regional Winners with their trophies:

East Midlands: Emily Hall

Northern Ireland: Laura Gilmore

North East: Helen Armstrong

Scotland: Jamie Calder

Southern: Annabel Vose and Megan Brickwood

South East: Luke Hagon

South West: Emma Phillips

Thames Valley: Isobel Mitchell

Wales: Matthew Whitfield

West Midlands: Matt Venables

Yorkshire and Humberside: Matthew & Ben Lulham-Robinson

North West: Elliot Hanson

Eastern: Georgina Povall

The YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year award was first presented in 1993.  Early winners include Dame Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie CBE, who both went on to win the Yachtsman of the Year title.

In addition to nominations from members of the public for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year, over 1,700 RYA affiliated clubs have the opportunity to nominate.  Plus, the RYA puts forward winners from each of its 13 regions as nominations for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year.

The nominees for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year receive a trophy and goodies provided by Yacht Parts Plymouth, Slam UK and a VIP day at the show for them and their families.

The 2011 YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year will be announced on Tuesday 10 January, at an awards ceremony to be held at Trinity House, London.  

Finalists for this prestigious title are Ben Ainslie CBE.  Despite having already won three Olympic gold medals and a silver, Ben is far from sitting back and basking in the glory of his past successes.  In the pre Olympic year he has worked hard to achieve yet more spectacular results including winning the 2011 Weymouth Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta and the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta (Olympic test event).  His outstanding performance has once again earned him a place within Team GB to compete at the 2012 London Olympics. 

Dee Caffari MBE.  In the 2010/11 two handed Barcelona World Race 38 year old Dee and her co skipper, Spaniard Anna Corbella finished in 6^th place.  On completion of this race Dee entered the record books as the only woman to have circumnavigated the globe, non stop, three times. 

Nick Craig.  Nick not only won the highly competitive OK World Championship in 2011 but in doing so also became the only person ever, to hold the World, UK National and Inland championship titles.  He also won the RS400 National championship.  To conclude an outstanding year, Craig went on to secure an overall win of the extremely challenging Endeavour Championship for the 5^th time.  The Endeavour Championship is an annual invitation only event, held at Burnham-on-Crouch, to determine the overall dinghy champion of champions from the UK’s most popular dinghy racing classes.  Winning the Endeavour Trophy is and always has been recognised as an ultimate dinghy racing achievement.  So to win five times, representing different classes throughout the years, puts Nick amongst the most versatile and talented dinghy sailors in the world.

The award will be presented by Geoff Holt MBE, last years YJA Pantaenius Yachtsmen of the Year winner.