A 23-year-old sail trainer from Middlesbrough has today won the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster of the Year award. Mark Devereux was presented with the trophy by HRH the Princess Anne, having been chosen from over 2,500 world-wide candidates, including two in Patagonia! His examiner, Steve Morgan, said: ‘Mark is undoubtedly the best candidate I’ve ever seen. He was so obviously competent that I gave him some very difficult tasks to stretch him and he achieved every single one.’ Proud recipient of a set of Gull International oilies, Mark said that the award came as ‘quite a shock, but I’m sure it will sink in’. The horizon looks bright as he’s hoping to begin a new instructor’s job in the next couple of months, and is looking forward to getting back on the water.