Former RYA chief executive Rod Carr was among those who were honoured yesterday at Windsor Castle as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The Princess Royal presented Mr Carr with a CBE for ‘services to sailing’.

Mr Carr, a member of Hayling Island Sailing Club for 19 years, spent 25 years at the RYA, becoming chief executive in 2000 until his retirement in March.

He was a driving force behind Great Britain ending the last three Olympics as the top sailing nation with a record four gold medals in Beijing in 2008.

He began as a dinghy coach to the team for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, when Britain earned a solitary bronze medal.

He said: ‘I feel incredibly proud to be awarded with this honour. It was an honour in itself to lead the RYA during a period of significant change and development for our sport.

‘Not many people are fortunate enough to have had a career in an activity that is their passion. I count myself as extremely privileged.’

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