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Winners, left to right, Tracy Edwards, Nikki Henderson, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Emily Mueller – photos YJA.
Tracy, Emily and Nikki
Paul Knox-Johnstpn, Tracy, Nikki, Emily and Clifford Webb
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Two firsts marked the 2018 Yachting Journalists’ Association Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year Awards: all-female winners and a tie for the YJA Yachtsman of the Year trophy. The awards were held today on the 45th floor of the iconic Leadenhall Building and hosted by MS Amlin Yacht after a breakfast reception celebrating Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s 80th birthday.
Sir Robin, himself a four-time winner of the YJA Yachtsman of the Year trophy, was kind enough to present the awards. The event was also live-streamed which you can replay via this link.
The YJA Young Sailor of the Year was announced first, with 15-year-old Emily Mueller collecting the award for winning the Volvo Gill Optimist British National Championship - only the third ever girl to win the national title.
Emily said on winning the award: “It is just such an honour. I never really expected to go this far in sailing; I just did it for fun at first, but now I love the competitive element. It was all such a surprise because I didn't even know I was nominated. Thank you all so much!”
Next up was presentation of the YJA Yachtsman of the Year voted by its membership. In over 60’s years of the YJA Awards, it was an unprecedented result, with a tie, and so the 2018 YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award was presented to joint winners, Tracy Edwards and Nikki Henderson.
Nikki Henderson made history when at 24 she was the youngest ever skipper to compete in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. By finishing in second place to Australian Wendy Tuck, she secured an all-female one-two.
Nikki mentioned the recognition of female sailors: “It is a step in the right direction. I think it is important to recognise that the Clipper Race aspect isn't just about the female skippers winning, but also the fact that almost half the crews are women. It is a really good example that the sport should not be all male; it should - and can be - a 50:50 mixed sport. I think that is what we really need to push for.”
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