Today, British yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE won the coveted title of YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year for 2010. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony held at Trinity House, London. Southampton based Geoff, 44, became the first quadriplegic to sail across the Atlantic when he sailed into the British Virgin Islands on January 7th 2010, overcoming personal adversity and achieving his own impossible dream.
Geoff Holt aboard the impossible Dream as he began his adventure to sail the Atlantic - Photo Digby Fox onEdition
It took 28 days to complete the 2,700 mile voyage. Geoff was also the first disabled person to sail solo around Great Britain and has been awarded an MBE for services to disabled sailing.
The other finalists for the YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year award were Edward Wright. Finn World Champion and double World Cup Winner. Edward is one of the true heavy hitters of the Finn class. This year he took first place in the Rolex Miami OCR , Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, Mallorca, the North American Championship and the Finn Gold Cup in San Francisco. Lucy MacGregor and team. Ladies World Match Racing Winners. Having gained National, European and World Championship titles and rapidly risen through the ranks to lead the World rankings, Lucy MacGregor and her team are a promising prospect for the future of British sailing.
British yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE won the coveted title of YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year for 2010 Photo Credit onEdition
The trophy was presented by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, himself a three times winner of the award.
The 2010 YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year was announced at a separate ceremony held on Saturday 8th January at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show. 18 year old Izzy Hamilton from Holsworthy in North Devon was presented with the Award by Match Racing winner Lucy MacGregor.
Izzy picked up her third Youth National title in April 2010. Izzy won a Silver medal at the European Youth Championships in Sopopt, Poland and another Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Izzy has just successfully defended her class Youth World title in Cyprus becoming Britain’s first ever double windsurfing Youth World Champion.
Izzy was amongst the nominations for this year’s Award, 12 of which were for RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year winners who are voted for by RYA affiliated sailing clubs and who were also presented with their awards by Mike Golding. These young sailors have made a significant impact on youth sailing, ranging from gold medal winning achievements and overcoming adversity, to the huge amount of hard work and effort they give back to their clubs.
The YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year Award is open to any British resident or passport holder who has made an outstanding achievement under sail or power during the year. The YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year awards British youngsters aged 18 and under (as at 31 December), in possession of a British passport (or immediately eligible to receive a British passport), who have made a significant impact on youth sailing.
The YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year Award was initiated in 1955 by Sir Max Aitken and now bears the names of the greatest achievers in British yachting circles over the past five decades. Previous winners include Eric Hiscock, Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Edward Heath, Clare Francis, Harold Cudmore, Tracy Edwards MBE, Sir Peter Blake, Dame Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie CBE.
The YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year receives the prestigious Yachtsman of the Year trophy, a silver navigation buoy mounted on a sea of crystal, which was commissioned by the late Sir Max Aitken.
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 over 1,700 RYA affiliated clubs have the opportunity to nominate. Plus, the RYA nominates winners from each of its 13 regions. The winners of both awards are nominated by the public and elected by the votes of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA).
