The next two spots on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar have been secured

by RYA on 25 Jul 2016 The next two spots on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar have been secured by Karen Langston from Beccles, Suffolk and Ben Slater from Ringwood, Hampshire.

As well as claiming their spot on the calendar Karen and Ben also win:
· Two tickets to the PSP Southampton Boat Show for the official prize giving
· Canvas print of their winning entry
· A copy of the final printed calendar
· A selection of RYA goodies
· And of course the much loved and coveted ilovesailing rubber duck which this year is a special Union Jack duck in celebration of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Karen’s winning photo entitled ‘Stormin’ Norfolks’ was taken from the Suffolk bank across the river Waveney toward the storm approaching from Norfolk. Karen commented: “I saw the storm formation approaching and hoped the Norfolks would stay close together at the start, allowing me to take the shot with the cloud arch behind. Luckily they did, which enabled me to take a few shots before the downpour soaked the fleet.”

Karen, who has also been a winner in the ilovesailing calendar competition in 2013 and 2014 added: “It's lovely to make it onto the calendar again and of course win an ilovesailing duck!”

Our second winner for June, Ben, sent in a fantastic shot entitled ‘Solent Splash’. Ben commented: “The photograph was taken on a passage race from East Cowes Promenade on the Isle of Wight to due south of the Berthon buoy outside the entrance to Lymington, and was actually taken from a time-lapse video that I made on passage.

“The race is hosted by the East Cowes Sailing Club on an annual basis and a trophy called the Marlow Cup is presented to the winner at the club’s presentation evening post laying-up supper. All boats completed the passage with corrected times of under an hour, so a great result and keen competition. All washed down with a nice evening at the bar in the Lymington Town Sailing Club!”

When asked about winning Ben added: “It, of course, feels really good to be a winner for the RYA ilovesailing calendar… It makes risking my camera on the front of the boat all the more worthwhile!”

Once more the judge’s deliberated long and hard to pick just two winners, with Karen and Ben’s pictures being picked from amongst the 38 stunning images submitted during June. “The calibre of entries never ceases to amaze the judging panel”, commented Emma Slater, ilovesailing co-ordinator. “Choosing just two each month is increasingly difficult but we had no doubts that both Ben and Karen’s images are worthy winners of a place in the 2017 calendar.”

The ilovesailing calendar competition is open to anyone wishing to submit their favourite sailing photos. Two winners will be picked each month between March and July to represent a different month on the 2017 calendar, with the final two spots being selected in August from all the other entries made between March and July. This way all entrants will have two shots at winning a spot on the calendar.

“July is your last chance to get your entries in”, added Emma. “The final two spots (August winners) will be picked from all the entries received since March, giving everyone at least two chances of clinching a spot on the 2017 calendar.”