Harry Sutton is the Winner of the RYA East Musto Regional Youth Award 2020
The awards celebrate the achievements of young people in the sport whether it’s on the racecourse, volunteering, instructing, coaching or overcoming adversity. They were presented to seven of the 11 regional winners by RYA Chair, Chris Preston, alongside Olympic champion Hannah Mills and her world championship-winning crew Eilidh McIntyre.
The RYA Musto Regional Youth Award East winner 2020 is Harry Sutton (18) from the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association (NSSA). Harry was nominated by the NSSA having joined in 2013 as a youth member, and since then become fundamentally involved in the running of the organisation. He has gone on to become both a Dinghy and Powerboat Instructor and widely assists with the programme of teaching of both young people and adults in both disciplines. Beyond his volunteer teaching role, Harry's contribution to the NSSA has continued, using his considerable photographic and IT skills to enhance the publicity of NSSA, creating the organisation’s 60th Anniversary Newsletter, designing the brochure to launch NSSA's campaign to purchase the sailing centre and managing the Association’s Facebook page. He also played a pivotal role in the Organisation’s 60th Anniversary celebrations both in terms of prior publicity and media coverage on the day. As the NSSA moves forward, Harry is very much a leading element in the team. He is currently in the process of revamping the website to make it much more accessible and appealing to all audiences, and to develop the facility to join NSSA and to book courses online.
Harry has just completed 6 months at the UKSA and, having gained his Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, is currently spending the next 12 months getting practical experience before returning to college, aiming to become a Yacht Captain. He is currently a crew member aboard a brand new 67m superyacht sailing from Antibes to the Bahamas, and said of the Award: “It was an absolute pleasure to hear that I had been nominated for the RYA Youth Award for the East Region. It means a lot to be recognised for the time I have volunteered and I would like to congratulate all of the other nominees across the country.”
Sue Head, Volunteer Coordinator at the NSSA said: “I am thrilled for Harry that he has won this award. It is testament to his hard work and dedication to Norfolk Schools Sailing Association; supporting our fundraising campaign, working on our publicity and leading the development of our new website. Thank you Harry!”
Eilidh McIntyre commented: “Congratulations to all the winners. These young people are doing so much for their communities and the people in their club and they are a true inspiration to us all.”
Emma Jackson, Musto Brand Marketing Manager, said: “Musto have come on board as a partner of the RYA Musto Regional Youth Awards and it’s been fantastic meeting all the inspirational winners today and celebrating their incredible work.
"We are pleased to champion sailing from grassroots all the way through to upper echelons of the sport through our partnerships with the British Youth Sailing and the British Sailing Team; these awards provide the perfect opportunity to do just that."
For more information about how to get out on the water in the East Region, once the current Coronavirus prevention restrictions are lifted, visit www.rya.org.uk/go/startboating.
Please note: At the time of going to print and based on the Government’s advice and guidance on the developing Coronavirus situation, the RYA has suspended all RYA organised events until at least 31 May 2020 – this date will be regularly reviewed. This includes OnBoard events and activities.