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September 14 2007
	2007 Yachtsman and Young Sailor of the Year Awards Do you know someone who deserves the top accolade?
The Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year and Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Awards are the principal awards for British sporting excellence for both power and sail, the list of past winners includes all the great names in yachting – Eric Hiscock, Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Edward Heath, Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur. The current holder of the Raymarine Yachtsman of the Year title is British round the world sailing heroine, Dee Caffari. Dee was awarded the title for the world record she set as the first woman to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world against prevailing winds and currents. For Dee the world challenge was a long-held ambition. Having fulfilled her desire to be involved in round the world yacht racing, by skippering a yacht in the Global Challenge, she set sail on a more personal voyage, the Aviva Challenge - her 178 day solo circumnavigation. Departing in November 2005, Dee arrived back a hero in May 2006 to a triumphant homecoming into Southampton . Katie Miller from Shenstone in Staffordshire is the current holder of the Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year title. Katie won the award for her single-handed circumnavigation of the UK in her boat Elektra earlier in 2006. Her inspirational three month voyage was in aid of The Ellen MacArthur Trust, to enable even more children with cancer to experience the thrills and beauty of sailing. Katie's initial plans were formulated in 2004 when she passed her Day Skipper course in Menorca - after two years of hard work she successfully completed her challenge. Katie is a student currently studying Yacht Manufacture and Surveying at Southampton Solent University. Do you know someone who deserves the title of ‘Yachtsman of the Year”? or, if the person is under 19 years of age, “Young Sailor of the Year”? If so, now is your chance to put forward your nominations for 2007 for these two top awards sponsored by Raymarine in conjunction with the Yachting Journalists' Association. Nominations must be received by midday 16 November 2007 to be considered for the shortlist. Presented annually, these two principal awards for British sporting excellence are for power or sail, and the judges are looking for any type of achievement – overcoming adversity, exceptional braveness, courage or simply doing good works on or off the water. The overall winner of the Raymarine YJA ‘Yachtsman of the Year' and the Raymarine ‘Young Sailor of the Year' will be announced at the 2008 London Boat Show. In addition to the nominations received from members of the public, the Royal Yachting Association will put forward winners from each of their 13 RYA regions for shortlisting for the Raymarine ‘Young Sailor of the Year' Award – over 1700 RYA affiliated clubs have the opportunity to nominate and vote. The winners will receive a prestigious trophy and a host of Raymarine goodies. Nominations Open 14 September 2007  Please visit the Raymarine website at: www.raymarine.com/nominations to submit your nominations.