Exceptional Yachtmasters recognised

At the RYA’s 150th anniversary stakeholders’ lunch in February, HRH The Princess Royal presented two RYA Yachtmaster of the Year awards.

The 2023 award was presented to Polly Ferrari, delayed due to a year missed during Covid.

Sailing from a young age, Polly was inspired on a week-long school trip with the Trinity Sailing Trust. She has since trained with the Ocean Youth Sport Trust and was a student at the International Boatbuilding Training College.

“Living and working on boats has been more than a job. The most important part has been the people I’ve met along the way,” she said.

Peter Hicks from the Isles of Scilly was awarded the 2024 Yachtmaster of the Year. Peter has been lifeboating for 32 years and is a full-time coxswain and mechanic at St Mary’s Lifeboat station. He jumped at the chance to take the Yachtmaster course when a space came up.

Peter said: “All my skills were tested and retested, which pushed me hard, but the result was so worth it as I’m now a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster offshore.”

Nominations for the coveted award are put forward each year by the worldwide team of RYA Yachtmaster examiners. 

Winners are presented with the RYA Yachtmaster trophy, donated by the Royal Institute of Navigation.