One of our Sixth Form students Chris West has just won the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Young Sailor of the Year Award for the Southern Region. The award recognizes outstanding achievements of young sailors across the country who have made a significant impact on youth sailing throught the year, through their performance on the water, around the club, by overcoming adversity or through an exceptional achievement.
Chris was nominated by his club for the great inspiration he has given to the young sailors at the club, not only through his own personal achievements at races around the harbour including Federation Week, Open meetings and WSSSA Regattas but more importantly for the time he has given encouraging and teaching the juniors and also adult members wanting to learn to sail. In fact, since he started doing this, when he was 15, the number of juniors learning to sail at the club has more than trebled. All this has been despite both personal illness and the life-threatening illness of his father.
Chris was treated to a VIP day at the show where the regional winners were able to pit their skills against each other on the Marine Leisure Association’s Deck Game Stand. This was followed by a tour and lunch aboard the Destroyer HMS Exeter and finally, the official presentation.
Chris will now join the thirteen regional winners from across the country and attend a ceremony at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show on 12th January where the Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year national winner will be announced.
Congratulations Chris on a such a major achievement.
Nick Taunt
Headteacher
A copy of the Royal Yachting Association's Press Release is attached

A full-size version of the picture above can be seen here.

This photo is posted in the Picture Gallery PhotoGallery.