RYA chairman Richard Langford has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to sailing and windsurfing.

Mr Langford (pictured above) has been chairman of the association since November 2007, having previously spent three years as deputy chairman and five years as honorary treasurer, which ended with the purchase of new headquarters and a move to Hamble.

He said: ‘I have been exceptionally fortunate to be involved in the sport I love and to receive an OBE is an incredible honour and a total surprise.

‘Sailing has been my passion all my life and to participate and work with so many people in windsurfing, sailing and latterly as chairman of the Royal Yachting Association has been an absolute delight.’

RYA chief executive Sarah Treseder lead the congratulations, calling the honour a ‘well-deserved recognition’.

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