Two more spots secured on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar

Jo Grierson wins a spot on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar © Jo Grierson

Jo Grierson from Poole, Dorset and Debbie Degge from Redditch, Worcestershire, have been crowned winners three and four in the ilovesailing calendar competition 2016, securing themselves a spot on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar.

"I cannot believe another of my pics has been chosen and it's great news for the duck collection!" commented Jo who was also a winner in the 2013 competition. "I'm certainly surprised and also excited as maybe this time I will persuade my husband to shorten our September sailing dates (big ask!!) so that we can both attend the Boat Show for the prize giving!" Jo's picture, entitled 'Mistry morning', was taken on the River Vilaine, a few miles upstream from La Roche Bernard.

While Debbie, whose winning shot is entitled 'Idyllic days' commented: "I'm ecstatic, I've been trying hard to win the Union Jack Duck in this Olympic year. It will join the New Zealand duck friends have just bought back for me.

"I took this shot while crewing a Cornish Crabber 24 called Kittiwake in Chichester harbour while sailing between Bosham and Hayling Island. It struck me as an idyllic summer sailing scene."

Jo and Debbie's winning images were picked from amongst the 50 stunning images submitted throughout April. "Our entrants really don't make it easy for the judging panel", commented Emma Slater, ilovesailing co-ordinator. "Once again we were spoilt for choice, but we can only choose two, but luckily we can start all over again in May. We still have eight more spaces to fill, so there's still plenty of opportunities to submit your favourite sailing photo and hopefully make it on to the 2017 calendar."

Debbie Degge wins a spot on the 2017 ilovesailing calendar - photo © Debbie Degge

As well as claiming their spot on the 2017 calendar Jo and Debbie 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

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.

All you have to do to take part is post your favourite sailing photo(s) on to the ilovesailing Facebook page www.facebook.com/ryailovesailing or email your entry to , it's that easy. Winners will be notified via Facebook and/or email.

All entrants should ensure they are the owner of the image or have permission to use the image. Images are also required to be a minimum of 1MB (high res) and be in either landscape format or able to crop to a landscape image for printing purposes.

The 2017 calendars will go on sale at the 2016 Southampton Boat Show in September, with the first 100 people to purchase a copy also receiving a 2016 ilovesailing rubber duck. Alternatively the calendars will also be available to purchase via the RYA web shop, www.rya.org.uk/shop from 16 September.

As well as the calendar competition the ilovesailing page will continue to run its ever popular weekly caption competition, giving you a chance to share your funny, clever and witty captions in a bid to win an ilovesailing duck.

Come along to the page at www.facebook.com/ryailovesailing and get involved.

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