2017 ilovesailing calendar competititon – First two spots secured

by RYA on 4 Apr 2016 The first two places on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar have been secured by winners Joe Purdie from West Mersea and Teresa Culmer from Nuneaton.

Picked from amongst 39 fantastic entries submitted in March, Joe and Teresa’s images stood out for the judges clinching them a spot on the calendar and a host of other prizes including:
· Two tickets to the Southampton Boat Show for the official prize giving
· A copy of the final printed 2017 ilovesailing calendar
· A canvas print of their winning picture
· RYA goody bag
· And of course, the ilovesailing duck who this year is flying the Union Jack in support of the British Sailing Team as they head off to the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer

“It was a lovely surprise to hear that I had won a place in the ilovesailing calendar competition. The photograph was taken at Staunton Harold SC whilst attending the ITCA Midlands coaching event”, commented Teresa.

“It was an overcast breezy day, but the sun suddenly shone through the cloud and lit up all of the Topper sails from behind, I was lucking enough to be able to catch the moment. We had three juniors from Tamworth Sailing Club taking part, unfortunately they were all head on in this photograph and cannot be seen!”

While Joe commented: “'I was really thrilled when I heard I got a space on the calendar, I did not think I was going to make it, but it just shows anything is possible.

“The photo was taken by me with no photoshop added, the sunset was left behind from the tail end of ‘Storm Kate’ with dramatic red, pinky and orange skies.”

The ilovesailing calendar competition is open to anyone wishing to submit their favourite sailing photos. Each month two lucky entrants will be picked to win a place on the 2017 calendar, along with a host of other great prizes including tickets to the Southampton Boat Show for the official prize giving ceremony.

“We’ve had another great start to the calendar competition this year”, commented Emma Slater, ilovesailing co-ordinator. “All the entries we received were fantastic and it was a tough job for the judges to narrow it down to our final two winners.

“In a slight change from previous years, two winners will be picked each month between March and July to represent a different month on the 2017 calendar, with the final to 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.”