Yachting Journalists Association

SAILING legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the YJA's Yachtsman of the Year is ruling the airwaves as he takes the helm of BBC Radio Solent's new weekly sailing programme, The H2O Show.

His show offers anything from weather forecasts, to news of sporting events on water, and even the movements of vessels in the port of Southampton,

Despite being a world famous yachtsman Sir Robin won't be sailing alone, as local power boat champion Shelley Jory will also be on hand, bringing listeners special reports from around the region.

Radio Solent is delighted to have Shelley onboard in for what promises to be a very special season for one of the UK's leading powerboat racers as she joins the Powerboat P1 World Championship series.

Sir Robin said: "Boating has got to be one of the biggest sports in Hampshire, it's a major activity for people, but the coverage has been limited so far.

"So I am really looking forward to it, and making it available as a podcast really will open up the programme to people unable to listen live on a Friday night.

"The show will be about any activity on or in the water, we want to talk to anyone who goes afloat.

"And you won't have to be an expert. We want to include information that is useful whether your livelihood is on the water or if it's just how you spend your leisure time.

"For example, as well as updating you on sea conditions we could also be taking a look at how you get started in kayaking.

"It will be a programme that anyone can listen to ? we want to encourage people's interest. It is all about accessibility."

It is broadcast on Friday evenings on Radio Solent 96.1 & 103.8FM, and on bbc.co.uk/radiosolent.

Sir Robin earned the title of Yachtsman of the Year for his solo circumnavigation, at the age of 68 on board Saga Insurance during the last Vendee Globe, exactly 38 years after his original solo sail round the world, for which he first won the Yachtsman of the Year trophy. In 1994 he also won the trophy jointly with the late Sir Peter Blake, for their record-breaking circumnavigation in ENZA which won them the Jules Verne Trophy, after which both men were knighted.

Lady Pippa Blake, widow of Sir Peter, was at the ceremony at the old Royal Naval College at Greenwich to present the Raymarine YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award to Sir Robin

His radio show is also available as a weekly podcast, at bbc.co.uk/hampshire and bbc.co.uk/dorset.

Listeners can download highlights of the show to their computer or MP3 player in order to listen at their convenience. The H2O show will be added to the BBC's existing portfolio of podcasts available at bbc.co.uk/podcasts.