The
finalists of the 2010 YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year and YJA
Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year awards have been announced. The vote
for the overall winner now goes to the members of the Yachting
Journalists’ Association (YJA) in a secret ballot. The winner of each
award will be revealed at two separate ceremonies during the Tullett
Prebon London International Boat Show in January 2011.

YJA
Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year finalists include Edward Wright, Finn
World Champion and double World Cup Winner. Edward is one of the true
heavy hitters of the Finn class. This year he took first place in the
Rolex Miami OCR , Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, Mallorca, the
North American Championship and the Finn Gold Cup in San Francisco. Lucy
MacGregor and team, Ladies World Match Racing Winners. Having gained
National, European and World Championship titles and rapidly risen
through the ranks to lead the World rankings, Lucy MacGregor and her
team are a promising prospect for the future of British sailing. Geoff
Holt. Geoff became the first quadriplegic to sail across the Atlantic
when he sailed into the British Virgin Islands in January 7th 2010,
overcoming personal adversity and achieving his own impossible dream. It
took 28 days to complete the 2,700 mile voyage.

Finalists
for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year include Anya Colley,
RYA National British Ski Stock Champion. Six of her World titles and
many of her other achievements have been secured in mixed gender
competition.

Joanna Freeman and Hannah Mitchell. Joanna and Hannah won
the RYA Volvo Nationals in Weymouth in April 2010 and placed 4th at the
ISAF Youth Worlds in Turkey, narrowly missing out on a 2nd through
protest.

Izzy Hamilton. Izzy picked up her third Youth National title in
April 2010. Izzy won a Silver medal at the European Youth Championships
in Sopot, Poland and another at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World
Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Izzy has just successfully defended
her class Youth World title in Cyprus becoming Britain’s first ever
double windsurfung Youth World Champion.

Winners
of both awards will be voted for by members of the Yachting
Journalists’ Association. The YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year will
be announced at an awards ceremony at midday on Tuesday 11th January
2011 at Trinity House, Tower Hill, London.

The
YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award will be announced at
14:00 hrs on Saturday 8th January 2011 at the Tullett Prebon London
International Boat Show at ExCel, at the Knowledge Box. RYA Regional
Winners will also be presented with their awards at the ceremony.

RYA Regional Winners are:

East Midlands: Anya Colley*

Northern Ireland: Sophie Murphy

North East: Jordan Muckles

Scotland: Callum Airlie

Southern: Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell*

South East: Richard Thomas

South West: Sam Sills

Thames Valley: Aaron Reynolds

Wales: Ellie Meophan

West Midlands: Sarah Norbury

Yorkshire and Humberside: Connor Bainbridge

North West: Cameron Douglas

*Also finalists for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award.