Members of the GBR Yacht Racing Academy were awarded ‘Best Royal Thames Boat for RORC Racing Series’ at the Royal Thames Yacht Club’s glittering prize winners event in London.  

Members of the GBR Yacht Racing Academy were in attendance to collect prizes for wins in Skandia Cowes Week and the RTYC Channel Race and were thrilled to be presented with the additional award.  

Peter Harrison, the Academy’s President was in attendance to witness the success of the youth racing scheme that he supports both financially and through the provision of his Farr 52, Chernikeeff 2. He was joined by Andrew Palmer who owns Bear of Britain, Ben Willows from UKSA who manages the GBR Yacht Racing Academy and six members of the 2007 Academy squad.  

The GBR Yacht Racing Academy develops and supports the lives of young people through yacht racing. Each year 45 young people aged between 18 and 25 are selected from hundreds of applicants to join the Academy and race aboard the two Farr 52’s, Bear of Britain and Chernikeeff 2.

Academy trainees are provided with one to one mentoring, on the water coaching, fitness training and leadership and teamwork development to enable them to race at the highest level and grow and develop as individuals.  Shirley Robertson OBE will be officially launching the recruitment campaign for the 2008 squad on Friday 30 November at the Whyte and Mackay Earls Court Boat Show. Applicants will be invited to take part in the Lewmar Winch Challenge on UKSA’s stand, a test of fitness and stamina. People can also apply online at www.uksa.org/racing