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RYA Chief Executive Speaks About 'A More Inclusive Approach to Sailing Governance' at British Yachting Awards 2022

30th November 2022
2022 British Yachting Awards Sailor of the Year, Ellie Driver is just 20 years old. Jim & Ellie Driver raced Sun Fast 3300 Chilli Pepper in IRC Two-Handed throughout the 2022 RORC Season’s Points Championship. Notably, Chilli Pepper won the Morgan Cup overall under IRC and in August Ellie became the youngest-ever skipper to finish the gruelling Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race. Ellie is studying Maritime Engineering at Southampton University and sits on the RORC’s Griffin Committee, which was created in 1945 to encourage sailors into the sport of Offshore Racing
2022 British Yachting Awards Sailor of the Year, Ellie Driver is just 20 years old. Jim & Ellie Driver raced Sun Fast 3300 Chilli Pepper in IRC Two-Handed throughout the 2022 RORC Season’s Points Championship. Notably, Chilli Pepper won the Morgan Cup overall under IRC and in August Ellie became the youngest-ever skipper to finish the gruelling Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race. Ellie is studying Maritime Engineering at Southampton University and sits on the RORC’s Griffin Committee, which was created in 1945 to encourage sailors into the sport of Offshore Racing

The great and good of UK yachting descended on the Royal Thames Yacht Club on 28 November to celebrate the 2022 British Yachting Awards.

The guest speaker was Sara Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of the RYA, who spoke about a more inclusive approach to sailing governance with a focus on diversity and equality.

The awards, organised by Sailing Today with Yachts and Yachting  magazine, are an opportunity for the readership to vote and give their verdict on some of the incredible talents within the sailing world.

It was also a chance to celebrate the finest new yachts, best events, kit innovations, destinations and much more.

The champagne flowed as the winners were announced, confirming what a vintage year this has been for sailing.

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland 

  • The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.
  • The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.
  • The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.
  • The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.
  • The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.
  • The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.
  • The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.
  • You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.
  • RYA NI is a company limited by guarantee – Registration number NI 51945
  • Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]