Close window to return to YJA news index

January 8 2004 Steve Curtis Wins Yachtsman of the Year Award  Steve Curtis, five-time Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 powerboat racing world champion, received the sailing world's most prestigious accolade at London Boat Show in January, the 2003 Raymarine Yachting Journalists' Association Yachtsman of the Year Award. Curtis is the first powerboat winner since 1990.  The title of Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year recognises British sporting excellence in power or sail. Racing with Norwegian Bjorn Gjelsten aboard 'Spirit of Norway', Curtis earned his fifth world title in October 2003 with a win in the Qatar Grand Prix. Curtis and Gjelsten are also European and pole position champions.  Curtis was runner-up to Olympic and world sailing champion Ben Ainslie in last year's Yachtsman of the Year awards, and has been a leading light in the world of powerboat racing for more than two decades. The 39-year-old from Southampton has proved himself to be the world's top throttleman, controlling the speed of his 160mph 'Spirit of Norway' and working closely in sync with helmsman Bjorn Gjelsten when cornering and navigating through big seas.  In 2003 Curtis was awarded the Segrave Trophy for the most outstanding demonstration of transportation by land, air or water. He has won 17 Class One Grand Prix, appeared on the podium 24 times and claimed 18 pole positions.     The Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year title went to 15-year-old Sebastian Clover for being the youngest person to sail single-handed across the Atlantic. He sailed his Contessa 32 'Reflection' from Tenerife in December 2002 and arrived in Antigua on 12 January 2003, just one day behind his father sailing an identical yacht. (Nominations for the 2004 Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year awards are now being collected, and must be received by the YJA Secretary before October 3 2004. Nomination forms for both awards can be found on the Raymarine website.)