Quad sailor Geoff Holt - Sailor of the Year Nomination and an MBE

by YJA on 3 Dec 2010 Geoff Holt, British quadriplegic who sailed across the Atlantic this year, is getting plenty of deserved recognition, with a nomination as the Britain's Yachting Journalist's Association's (YJA) Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year and also an MBE, recently awarded by the Queen.

However, Geoff says he is very pleased by the Yachtsman of the Year nomination. 'Given the choice between an MBE and Yachtsman of the Year, I think I would choose YOTY award every time.' he told reporters recently

'Tens of thousands of people receive MBE's but more people have walked on the moon than received the YOTY Award - it is the ultimate accolade in our sport because it is voted for by the people who matter most, the yachting journalists themselves, all of them experienced yachtsmen; it's more like a 'Knighthood of sailing' than an award'.'

Members of the YJA are currently voting for who they consider most deserves to hold the title of the 2010 YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year and the Young Sailor of the Year. All the other nominations are for racing sailors.

The finalists have been selected by the Committee and the winners will be chosen in the members' ballot. There were 14 nominees for the Young Sailors' award and some ten nominees for the Yachtsman of the Year title. The Committee believes believe that the nominees selected deserve their place in the final vote.

Voting will close on December 16.

The Young Sailor of the Year will be presented at the London Boat Show on Saturday, January 8, 2011 and the Yachtsman of the Year on Tuesday January 11, 2011.

YJA/Pantaenius 2010 Yachtsman of the Year Nominations

Ed Wright – Finn World Champion and double World Cup winner
Lucy Macgregor and team Ladies World Match Racing winners
Geoff Holt First quadriplegic to sail across the Atlantic

YJA/Pantaenius 2010 Young Sailor of the Year nominations

Isobel Hamilton, age 18, RYA Volvo RS:X National Youth Squad Windsufer
Joanna Freeman and Hannah Mitchell, both 18, RYA Volvo 420 National Youth Squad sailors
Anya Colley, aged 18, Jet Sport Racing Association Jet Skier

More information at http://www.yja.co.uk/