30 minute read
British Yachting Awards
JPK 39 FC
Breton boatbuilder JPK has carved out a fearsome reputation for producing innovative offshore racers, but it has always had a complementary selection of fast cruisers and their new 39 definitely sits in that category, replacing the existing 38. The new model features striking styling with an unusual but not unattractive coachroof which slopes a long way aft, plus a very hard chine aft and full forward sections. There is the option of a ballasted swing keel or twin fixed keels. The boat weighs in at 5,500kg which is still modest although 500kg heavier than the JPK 38 and the signs are that this will be a slightly stronger performer off the wind but will lose a bit of edge upwind compared to her predecessor. The interior is comfortable and well appointed and there is the choice of two or three cabin layouts.
Hanse 460
Hanse is one of the German giants of the boatbuilding scene but, for all that, they’ve been pretty quiet in recent years. Now the company is back with an all new 460 which will replace the existing 458 and the big news is that the Germans have broken with their go-to designer Judel/Vrolijk and instead have gone with the French design house of Berret/Racoupeau who are best known in the cruising world for their work with Jeaneau and Beneteau. The result is a boat that is much beamier - 4.79m compared to 4.38m for the 458, heavier - 12,560kg compared to 11.700kg, and incorporating the recent trend towards fuller forward sections. The result is a boat that boasts even more interior volume and should be more powerful off the wind.
John Douglas, Zoe Coltart and Mike Wood of the Disabled Sailors Association
SAILING’S BEST
THE BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS 2021
Presented by
You voted in your thousands for the best boats, sailors and kit of the past year. Here are the winners
with
The British Yachting Awards took place at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge, on 30 November, with the winners announced in 13 categories, the results of six weeks of voting – and almost 20,000 votes cast – by the readers of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting. Thankyou to everybody who voted. The shortlists for each category were published in our November 2021 issue and nominations included some of the biggest names in sailing, alongside amateur yachtsmen and youth sailors. A roomful of sailing VIPs gathered at the Royal Thames YC for the ceremony – an audience ranging from Olympians and solo circumnavigators, to naval architects and boat builders, to weekend sailors and some of our subscribers who took advantage of the opportunity to pay for a ticket. Presenter was the magazine’s group editor Rob Peake, who said: “The British Yachting Awards celebrates the best of the cruising and racing worlds over the last 12 months. For sailors and for the marine industry, it turned out to be a spectacular year.” Rob introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Ian Walker, the RYA’s Director of Racing. He thanked the event’s sponsors – BoatLife Live, GAC Pindar, Pantaenius and Davey & Co, which made the trophies (see opposite). The ceremony was live streamed and remains available to watch on on Yachts & Yachting Facebook and via our dedicated website britishyachtingawards.com
SPONSORED BY
Winning circumnavigators: Murdoch McGregor, Katie McCabe and Sir Chay Blyth
Guest speaker Ian Walker
Guest speaker at the British Yachting Awards was the RYA’s Director of Racing Ian Walker, who gave a personal insight into his role leading the sailing team in Tokyo. He quipped: “I’d love to be able to take all the credit for what happened in Tokyo, but unfortunately I can’t do that – my main role out there was driving the athletes to the venue and back each day in a RIB.” He praised the whole team, saying: “Normally in at any Olympics there is at least one major drama, but the amazing thing about Tokyo was that everything went to plan. Just getting there was a massive achievement. We did over 1,700 Covid tests, between the sailors and support staff, in the three weeks before we left and while we there. Just one positive test would have derailed the whole team, so the responsibility involved for everybody in ensuring we got there was immense.” Ian spoke about the development of grassroots sailing, saying: “When you look at our gold medallists, there is little similarity in their backgrounds, except that all of them were strong at youth level. So we’re desperately looking now at how we can keep attracting strong sailors with different experiences. I’m a big believer in sailing different boats, doing club races, sailing double-handed, getting all sorts of experiences that build you as a sailor. That’s getting harder to do because club racing is declining. While club membership is strong, the actual core of racing is struggling – not everywhere, but in general, it’s harder to get people to turn out for the weekly races. That’s the other half of my job – not the Olympics, but about the health of our sport, about clubs, volunteers, about how can I leave my role knowing that other people will get the same that I had or better. I know many of you in this room face those same challenges.” Visit rya.org.uk/club-centre-support to find out how the RYA can support your sailing club.
There was a tribute paid during the ceremony to John Goode, the former editor of Sailing Today who died in 2021 at the age of 71. John (pictured left, top) was editor for much of Sailing Today’s first decade, from 2001 to 2007, and in those years put the magazine on the map with his series of straight-talking practical articles that became unmissable monthly reading for thousands of sailors. His death after a short illness in May prompted tributes from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Tom Cunliffe and many other leading figures in sailing.
Yacht surveyor Ben Sutcliffe, who knew John for 40 years and was one of Sailing Today’s first advertisers when it was founded, spoke at the ceremony (left, below) about John’s great seamanship, garnered through a life afloat, having gone to sea aged 14. With John’s widow Rosie and family watching via the live stream, Ben drew laughs from the audience as he recalled John’s nautical humour and language, which famously he never dampened no matter how regal the company. Ben said: “He poured an awful lot of his time and energy into passing on his knowledge to others. We all learned so much from John about make-do and mend, and how to get out of a pickle. You can spot a John Goode sailor a mile off. They’re the ones who have that proper bit of seamanship. He’s left a legacy with so many people.”
The trophies
Davey & Co is one of the oldest marine businesses in the world, having been started in 1885 and still operating today with more than a few items for sale that originated in its Victorian catalogues. The chandler is under new ownership and Managing Director Jeff Webber and his team pulled out all the stops to create a series of unique trophies for the British Yachting Awards. Jeff said: “They were all handmade, 100% British materials and the bases were done using traditional handtools and hand-varnished by Harbour Marine Services apprentices in Southwold. The crossed shackle and marlinspike [used on some of the trophies] is from the Royal Navy badge for Seamanhship. It has that heritage and to our knowledge it’s never been done before as a trophy like this. We wanted something that was different and which represented a significant achievement.” Jeff added: “Davey & Co is known for the heritage products, but we also supply lots of things into mainstream chandlers for modern yachtsmen. It’s about us showing the versatility of what we can do, whether it’s products for sail repairs or rigging kits, to gifts and nautical items for the home.” davey.co.uk
Tribute to John Goode
CRUISING YACHT OF THE YEAR
WINNERS: DUFOUR 470 AND JEANNEAU 60 RUNNER UP: SOLARIS 40
The cruising yacht of the 2020s is a thing far removed from its 1970s and 1980s ancestors. Each of the yachts on our shortlist of five is a mini apartment – most of them are significantly more spacious than the average apartment, notably the Bavaria 38, which boasts three supersized double berths. The Solaris 40, another contender, may be the company’s entry level model, but it too is a sleek and roomy yacht. The Salona 46, also nominated, is that company’s flagship and visitors at the Southampton Boat Show will have seen her first-rate, seamanlike fitout. These boats are not just designed for comfort – they may be beamy and high-sided compared to the yachts of yesteryear, but the best ones have the power to handle well in a marina, while out at sea they are almost always set up for simple double or short-handed cruising.
So which boat won? For the first time in the British Yaching Awards, we had a tie. And interestingly, you voted for two boats that both offer great comfort and seakindliness, but which are also quite different: the Dufour 470 and the Jeanneau 60.
The Dufour is the company’s first injection moulded hull and comes with much ‘pre-design’ work, which benefits the whole boat but particularly down below. The looks come from its chines, which the designer has pushed very far forward, creating greater stiffness, as well as a huge cabin for the owner. It’s a great boat that is easily sailable and moorable, but equally well-suited to long-term living aboard and bluewater cruising.
The Jeanneau 60, meanwhile, is mini-superyacht, coming with a plethora of smart gadgets including an outdoor galley that raises at the push of a button. She is the result of a powerhouse design collaboration between Phillippe Briand and Andrew Winch, who have stopped at nothing to create a very special boat, yet one that is still simple and pleasurable to sail.
The Dufour 470, with (inset above) Chris Warwick of Universal Yachting
TheJeanneau 60, with (inset) Antoine Chancelier, Jeanneau area sales manager
BLUEWATER CRUISER OF THE YEAR
It was noteworthy, given that it’s an offshore category, that two boats on our shortlist were around the 40ft mark, the Germán Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassy 400, an extension of the company’s modern twinwheel set-up, and the Ovni 370, an aluminium hull boasting clever cost-cutting measures in the build that negate the need for longitudinal stringers.
Up against them was the Contest 59CS, the latest stunning model from the Dutch family firm that started building the Flying Dutchman 60 years ago and now produces the only leisure yachts that are Lloyds-certified. The winner came from British shores, although anyone owning one is unlikely to remain in British waters for long. It’s a proven design, befitting this category, that is tailormade for cruising over the horizon. Perhaps your choice of the Discovery 48S recognised its heritage, perhaps you admired the custom nature of this model, specifiable with any number of configurations and luxury personalisations. Perhaps you liked its ability to cruise in comfort – and with performance – to far distance shores, while offering shoal draft sailing as well, with lifting keel option.
The Discovery 48S, with (inset) build manager Andy Standing and designer Ian Fraser of Discovery Shipyard
PERFORMANCE YACHT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: POGO 44 RUNNER UP: BENETEAU FIRST 27SE
On the racing side of things, we found no new dinghies to shortlist this year, but we had no shortage of great performance yachts, some of which are designed for out-and-out competition, most of which are meant for pacy cruising too.
The shortlist included the Beneteau First 27 SE, a wellreceived, nimble and uncomplicated weekend racer.
We also nominated the Infiniti 52, which with its transverse DSS foil offers greater performance.
The Shogun 50 was on the list – she’s our cover boat this month and you’ll enjoy editor Sam Jefferson’s report. “Delicously bonkers,” he says.
Finally, we nominated the Italia 14.98, built on the shores of the Venice lagoon, for its pure Italian flair above and below.
The speed machine that won your votes, however, comes from the heart of the French offshore racing scene in southern Brittany. Sam’s report says it is “life affirmingly superb….unforgettably, epically, brilliant”.
Pogo Structures CEO Christian Bouroullec, sent a video message from the factory: “All my colleagues and I are very proud of this award because it comes from a community of sailors. It comes after 30 years of development in the Pogo brand. A big thanks to you and your readers.”
The Pogo 40, with (inset above) Pogo CEO Christian Bouroullec, who sent a video message from the factory in France
MULTIHULL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: LAGOON 55 RUNNER UP: OUTREMER 4 ZERO
Once a multihuller, always a multihuller. For those who like their sailing flat and extremely comodious, the boats on our shortlist will have made for a mouthwatering dream shopping list. There was the Neel 43, a bluewater trimaran, boasting the marque’s innovative ‘Cockloon’ whereby the cockpit and saloon are merged to create a vast living space. There was the Outremer 4 Zero, the eco pioneer from Montpellier, designed with Jimmy Cornell. There was the Windelo 50 Adventure, boasting a first for sustainable boat building – a hull made using volcanic basalt. Your votes, however, went to a boat that was designed by the man who famously drew the Ford Sierra. Some might say he’s achieved the impossible here, by making a high volume multihull look good. It’s a sumptuous boat that is manageable by a couple, with a self-tacking jib and a focus on easy sailing. With up to six double cabins and that huge flybridge, the Lagoon 55 is also good for charter, and the manufacturers had sold 60 by the end of Cannes Boat Show.
The Lagoon 55, with (inset) Graham Laver, Lagoon Sales Manager for Ancasta
EVENT OF THE YEAR
MARINA OF THE YEAR
WINNER: VENDÉE GLOBE RUNNER UP: SAILGP PLYMOUTH
Andrew Pindar from category sponsor GAC Pindar revealed the winner in this category, which despite the pandemic’s restrictions, included events from a spectacular year for competitors and observers. Among the nominations were the America’s Cup, SailGP Plymouth, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Round the Island Race and Cowes Week. The Vendée Globe, however, was the one that drew your votes, after it gave us all some muchneeded entertainment over the winter lockdown a year ago. And high quality entertainment it was, with drama from the fi rst days to the very fi nal moments. After the favourites were knocked out of the running – both Jérémie Beyou and Alex Thomson su ering damage to their boats in the Atlantic – it became the most open race for years, as the fl eet entered the south. The world waited as Kevin Esco er’s fellow skippers searched for his liferaft overnight, after his boat PRB broke up suddenly. Then, after sustained Southern Ocean match-racing, the race e ectively restarted as the leading group bunched o Brazil. The extraordinary nighttime fi nale was as gripping as sport
The Vendée Globe fi nish, with winner Yannick Bestaven on board Maître could be. Vendée Globe director
Coq IV. (Inset) Sabina Mollart Rogerson, representing the Vendée Globe, general Laura Le Go sent a video receives the trophy from category sponsor Andrew Pindar of GAC Pindar message, thanking all who voted and saying: “The pandemic added complexity, but we managed to adapt the organisation to ensure the safety of the skippers and the popularity of the event. More than ever, this edition of the race gave a feeling of freedom and made people dream, while we were all locked down. Over one million fans followed the race and more than 42 channels broadcast the start live. It generated an amazing buzz.” SPONSORED BY
GAC Pindar is trusted by the world’s biggest sailing events to deliver complex logistics services across the globe. Headquartered in the UK sailing hub of Southampton, it is a strategic partnership combining the global service expertise of the GAC Group with the Pindar brand’s knowledge and understanding of the yachting community. Making history in 2020, GAC Pindar has been appointed as O cial Logistics Provider for The Ocean Race for a third consecutive time, providing a complete suite of event logistics services including; feasibility planning, sustainable transportation solutions, customs clearances, site management, storage and relocation services for urgent spares.
WINNER: BERTHON LYMINGTON RUNNER UP: OCEAN VILLAGE
Our shortlist included some magnifi cent places to keep your yacht – Chichester Marina, Conwy Marina, Largs Yacht Haven, Mylor Yacht Harbour and Ocean Village.
Your votes went to a marina with heritage stretching back to the 1800s, and one that won the hearts of its berth-holders with a series of measures over 2021 that included waterside gigs.
Berthon’s Lymington Marina Manager Luke Machin said: “We would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us, our brilliant berth holders and marina visitors and of course the fantastic team who make it all possible. Looking back on 2021, it’s safe to say it has been an eventful year.
“I feel we extended the ‘Berthon family and community’ where everyone is able to unwind and enjoy their leisure time knowing that their pride and joy is in the very best marina with the very best sta . This award is not just for the marina, but also for the Berthon family, who all play a key part in o ering the unique ‘Berthon one-stop-shop experience’.”
Luke Machin, marina manager at Berthon’s Lymington Marina, receives the award from Je Webber of Davey & Co, which made the trophies
Musto’s Flexlite Vapour range in action and (inset) the brand’s Shaun French receives the trophy
CLOTHING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
WINNER: MUSTO FLEXLITE VAPOUR RANGE RUNNER UP: BALTIC ATHENA LIFEJACKET
More than one manufacturer of sailing clothing that we spoke to at the recent METS trade show in Amsterdam reported having had their best ever year for trading in 2021. Boat sales boomed, producing a vast number of first-time owners who needed the right sailing attire. Whether you’re a first-time boat owner, or on your 12th, you’ll have had no shortage of great clothing to choose from this past year.
Our shortlist included the new brand Wuzzos, for its personalisation service. Also there was the Baltic Athena lifejacket, still one of few designed specifically for female sailors. Dubarry’s Aquatech shoes were popular with our panel, as were Gill’s OS3 Coastal foulies, aimed at cruisers who don’t need full offshore protection. The Rooster Aquafleece Hoodie also made the shortlist, making the dinghy park experience significantly more comfortable for kids and adults.
The winner proved to be kit we’d tested ourselves this summer and rated highly. More significantly, it’s a technical innovation – a breathable neoprene – that benefitted the British Sailing Team in Tokyo.
EQUIPMENT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
WINNER: EPROPULSION SPIRIT 1.0 EVO RUNNER UP: B&G HALO20+
Steve Bruce of ePropulsion UK receives the trophy for the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo
The sailing kit market is always a fast-developing one and today more so than ever, focussed on sustainability and ‘green’ sailing. A new electric outboard for small race yachts from Torqeedo, Fisher Panda UK’s Parker Hannifin H20 Eco watermaker (aimed at smaller bluewater yachts that don’t have a generator), and Marlow’s Blue Ocean Doublebraid made of plastic bottles were all shortlisted. Also on the list was B&G’s Halo20+ radar (which gives an almost real-time view at close range, suitable for smaller sailboats), the eWincher2 (suitable for any winch on a boat up to 60ft, instantly giving you oodles more power), the Lewmar Epsilon anchor (a successful attempt to make the Delta even better), the Optimum Time SOS Siren (designed for a man overboard who finds they don’t have the breath to blow a whistle) and finally Zhik’s Carbon Powerpads (which mould with you as you move around the dinghy). The winner is a standout performer, with a direct drive, extensive range and the first ever electric outboard with hydrogeneration. The ePropulsion Spirit Evo, good for a small yacht or tender, also offers a floating battery and a remote control, so you can switch the engine off if you happen to go overboard.
SAILOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: MURDOCH MCGREGOR RUNNER UP: PIP HARE
The nominations here included some of the biggest names in the sport – Vendée Globe stars Alex Thomson and Pip Hare, two-times Moth world champion Tom Slingsby, the British Sailing Team, INEOS Team UK and Emirates Team New Zealand. Among the amateur nominations was Rolex Fastnet winner Tom Kneen with his Sunrise crew and the crew of the Daring, Dauntless, who have now won Cowes Week a record four times.
The biggest cheer of the British Yachting Awards ceremony, however, was reserved for 82-yearold Murdoch McGregor, who beat the lot of them, winning your votes for his solo round Britain sail. The Scotsman, who only started sailing in his seventies, suffered a back injury 50 miles short of Cape Wrath, which forced him to change his plans to go round Shetland, but he and his Hunter Horizon completed the circle, arriving back in home port of Alloa having raised more than £10,000 for Mental Health UK. He was presented the award by Fiona McCracken of category sponsor Pantaenius, who said: “It was lovely meeting Murdoch and Janice at the ceremony and chatting with them both. He was overwhelmed by the nomination and said he had already won the gold medal by just being nominated. It was such a pleasure to present him with his well-deserved trophy.”
Murdoch said: “To say I was astounded to hear my name called as ‘Sailor of the Year’ was an understatement! I had been shortlisted with some of the best sailors and just to see my name on that list was my gold medal. It was great to be there with Katie McCabe [winner of Youth Sailor of the Year] and also to meet my favourite sailor of all time, the legendary Sir Chay Blyth. Honoured to be there with the great man. My finest moment in sailing.”
Fiona McCracken of Pantaenius (left) presents the trophy to Murdoch McGregor, with wife Janice SPONSORED BY
Pantaenius is one of the leading boat insurance specialists and has been providing tailored insurance solutions to boat owners for over 50 years. Our market leading cover offers reliable all-round protection for maximum peace of mind at competitive premiums. With our new cover levels Yacht Cover Plus and Boat Cover, you can be sure that Pantaenius has the right cover for every boat. Pantaenius also offers insurance solutions for private and professional skippers who sail on borrowed or chartered boats. Over 100,000 customers enjoy the Pantaenius renowned personal service and reliable claims handling. To obtain a quotation or discuss your individual insurance requirements please call 01752 223656 or visit pantaenius.co.uk
YOUTH SAILOR OF THE YEAR
Richard Dove, of category sponsor BoatLife Live, presents the trophy to Katie McCabe
WINNER: KATIE MCCABE RUNNER UP: TIMOTHY LONG
Our three nominees were superlative candidates, names that we very much expect to be featuring in future ceremonies. First on the list was Timothy Long, who we heard about just too late for our last British Yachting Awards in 2020, when he completed his solo round-Britain sail, at the time the youngest to have done it. That successful voyage, however, proved to be just the warm-up. Over the last year Timothy raced in the Double-Handed Offshore series, did bow on the J112 Jooped, coming second in the J/Cup, winning the Tattinger and third at Cowes Week, and he has become the first Youth Ambassador for the Andrew Simpson Foundation. He is now aiming for the Mini Transat 2023.
We also shortlisted Jamie Cook and Will Martin, who were Optimist rivals in the Welsh youth squad until they teamed up in the 420 and proved to be a winning formula. They have been the top-ranked boys crew for the last two years, winning the Youth Nationals by 20 points in 2021 and were selected to represent Great Britain at the Youth Worlds in December.
Your votes, however, went to another remarkable young sailor, aged just 14. Katie McCabe has spent her entire life living afloat with her parents. As a family, they’ve sailed an Atlantic circuit, and many thousand miles in between, on an elderly wooden gaffer. Having picked up traditional shipwrighting skills from mum and dad, Katie did up a 1950 Morgan Giles design, Falanda, in her free time. Then with father David following a few miles behind on his own boat (strictly for insurance reasons, as Katie made clear), she set off around Britain solo. She was the youngest person to have ever attempted the feat and had no paper qualifications to her name, but she completed the trip in time for the start of term in September, demonstrating a level of seamanship vastly beyond her years.
Katie is speaking at BoatLife Live, the boat show taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, from 17-20 February. Her yacht, Falanda, will be there too.
Runner-up Timothy Long is now aiming for the Mini Transat SPONSORED BY
BoatLife Live will be held 17-20 February 2022 at Birmingham NEC. The inaugural show is the place to kick off the season and get ready to get back on the water. With a replica traditional riverside pub and Mediterranean bar, there will be plenty of places to meet old friends and make new ones while listening to live music and enjoying the energetic atmosphere. The show’s main attraction is the boats, with over 100 on display from Brig, Cranchi, Cornish Crabbers, Viko Yachts, Zodiac Ribs, Fairline, Grand Ribs, Parker Boats, Supra Boats and Bayliner. It does not stop with the boats; you will also find holiday and equipment companies, including Suzuki, Freedom Boat Club, Pro Marine Finance Barrus and SBS Trailers on the show floor. Head to the Live Stage to hear talks from boating faces you know and love and visit the Inland Zone and Virtual Reality feature to get your thrill of the day – the show has been curated to give the whole family a day out and celebrate the boating lifestyle. boatlifeevents.com
The Disabled Sailors Association welcomes people with any disability on its specially designed catamaran. Pictured at the British Yaching Awards (inset, from left) are skipper John Douglas, marketing manager Zoe Coltart and founder and chairman Mike Wood
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
DISABLED SAILORS ASSOCIATION
We are delighted to announce the Disabled Sailors Association (DSA) as our Charity of the Year for 2022. We were privileged to do the Round the Island Race last July with the DSA, when we saw a tiny bit of the excellent work it does. The Disabled Sailors Association owns the specially designed, fully accessible catamaran Spirit of Scott Bader and it welcomes people with any disability. Sailors on Spirit of Scott Bader, going out from Port Solent with skipper John Douglas almost daily, often include injured exservicemen, people with Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and any physical, hidden, mental health or learning disability.
Spirit of Scott Bader was designed for wheelchair users, with wide sidedecks, and helm and winches easily accessible from sitting height. It was a ground-breaking project 20 years ago but since then improved technology and social integration has enabled more disabled people to try new activities and further their ambitions. This technology has increased the size, weight and complexity of the wheelchairs used by many of the people who sail with the DSA. Improvements in manual handling techniques to support care staff have seen developments in hoists and other equipment that enable people with complex disabilities to take a fully active and independent part in activities. A bigger, better boat has been designed, but the money needs to be found.
Disabled Sailors Association founder and chairman Mike Wood was at the British Yachting Awards, with skipper John Douglas and marketing manager Zoe Coltart, to receive the award and say: “Back in the very early days of Sailing Today they did an article on me and my dreams of providing proper sailing for disabled people. We went on to build Scott Bader which provides up to 1,000 sailing places a year to people who are quite often unable to sail with other organisations because their facilities aren’t suitable. Now we have plans to expand our facilities even more with a new boat.” disabledsailing.org
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: PIP HARE RUNNER UP: HANNAH MILLS
What a line-up. There was Damien Seguin, the Paralympic star who turned to offshore racing and finished the Vendée Globe within the leading group, despite his boat being 2008era. He was born without his left hand and his achievement was also a remarkable first for disability sailing.
Also in our shortlist was Giles Scott, the Finn sailor whose startline antics in Tokyo gave us all a heart attack, before he went on to win a second consecutive Olympic gold. Giles was also nominated for his role as tactician on INEOS Team UK, a cool-headed presence by Sir Ben Ainslie’s side in Auckland, just five months before the Olympics.
The shortlist included his TeamGB colleague Hannah Mills, whose silver and two golds have made her the most successful ever female Olympic sailor. Her wider status in sport was recognised as she was chosen to carry the TeamGB flag at the Tokyo opening ceremony. Hannah is also an environmental campaigner and she joined SailGP this summer.
We nominated Howard Pridding, the former head of British Marine who spent the last three years at the RYA, during which he negotiated Brexit wranglings for sailors and helped lobby the Government to ensure sailors were first out of lockdown. After a career serving the marine industry, Howard retired this year.
Of the thousands of votes in this category, however, most went to the fifth candidate on our shortlist – Vendée Globe sensation Pip Hare, whose story has captivated so many people. She and sponsor Medallia became the runaway media stars of the event, and meanwhile she sailed one of the race’s oldest boats to 19th place, a performance that earned her the admiration of the entire IMOCA fleet. Now the story continues, as Medallia continues to back her for the 2024 race in a boat that has made the Vendée Globe podium twice before.
Pip (right) attended the ceremony with members of her shore team, Isla Reynolds and Lou Adams, and said: “I’m honoured to receive this award especially as it’s voted for by the public. Thank you so much.”
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SIR CHAY BLYTH
In 2021, the sailing world marked the 50th anniversary of one of the great, pioneering offshore voyages – the 292-day circumnavigation achieved by Sir Chay Blyth in 1970 and 1971, solo around the world, against the winds and currents. The ‘impossible voyage’ was rightly celebrated worldwide and became the defining achievement of Sir Chay’s life, but his career has been marked by significant other firsts and his positive impact on the wider world of sailing is incalculable. We were delighted to be able to present him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Yachting Awards ceremony on 30 November.
At the ceremony, group editor Rob Peake said: “Few believed that a ‘wrongway’ solo circumnavigation could be done. It was 50 years ago last summer that thousands came to greet Sir Chay at the finish in the Hamble River, including the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prime Minister Edward Heath. What those onlookers didn’t realise was that over the next half century only five more sailors would manage to complete the same ‘wrong way’ voyage, compared to the 140 who have sailed solo with the prevailing winds.”
Mike Golding, who was the first to break Sir Chay’s record with his own wrong-way voyage, 28 years later, said: “The success achieved by Team GB sailors at the Tokyo Olympics may not have been nearly so good had the pioneers like Sir Chay and Sir Robin not inspired so many people to buy boats and get afloat, for it is their children or grandchildren that are now leading the charge in international sailing. We have a great deal to thank them for.”
After the circumnavigation, Sir Chay made headlines again when he trained up from scratch and skippered a crew of Paratroopers in the first Whitbread Round the World Race, in 1973-4, winning line honours on elapsed time.
Over the next two decades, in a high-profile racing career, he won the 2-Man Round Britain Race, he won the Double-Handed Transatlantic Race, he completed anther Whitbread, he survived 19 hours in the water off Cape Horn after his trimaran capsized and he was Richard Branson’s co-skipper on Virgin Atlantic Challenger, to name just a few of his achievements.
In the late 1980s he formed the Challenge Business, driven by his lifelong Top left and top centre: Sir Chay arrives belief that sailing should be accessible on British Steel in Hamble, welcomed by thousands of people and members to anyone. Long before the first Clipper of the Royal Family. Race, the venture would see paying, Above left: Navigation by chart and sextant. amateur crews race around the world. They Left: British Steel; she is currently being would follow in his footsteps, ‘the wrong refitted in Devon by her private owner. way’. As with several steps in his career,
