MS Amlin Yacht announced as title sponsor

MS Amlin Yacht announced as title sponsor of the YJA Yachting Awards 2019 - Paul Knox-Johnston of MS Amlin Yacht with Cliff Webb, YJA Chairman © Yachting Journalists' Association

MS Amlin Yacht, the boat insurance specialists have agreed to become the title sponsor of the YJA Yachtsman of the Year, Young Sailor of the Year and Young Blogger of the Year awards 2019.

In a change to previous years, the 2019 Awards will be presented at a black tie gala dinner on Friday 13th September during the Southampton Boat Show, where members of the Yachting Journalists' Association will meet with a vast array of sailing talent and key figures from the marine industry to reward the most outstanding accomplishments during 2019.

Paul Knox-Johnston, MS Amlin Yacht Business Development Manager said, "MS Amlin Yacht are proud to support the yacht industry and all journalists involved in writing about and promoting boating, whether they are freelance or attached to a publication, through the YJA Awards. These are the primary independent awards for our industry and we hope our support allows them to remain so for the foreseeable future. The open approach allowing anyone to nominate a sailor they believe deserves to win, followed by the expert YJA members vote means that any sailor with an interesting 2019 diary has a chance of winning.

Recognising the achievements of both experienced yachtsman and younger sailors will hopefully provide inspiration for a new generation to get out on the water and follow in the award's winner's wake."

As the original Yachtsman of the Year Award, first presented in 1955 to Eric Hiscock, for his achievement sailing around the world in Wanderer III, the award has been bestowed upon many UK sailing legends for all manner of feats undertaken on the water. With names such as Ben Ainslie, Ellen MacArthur, Robin Knox-Johnston, Dee Caffari and Alex Thompson engraved on its base, to win it is the highest recognition of sailing talent.

The Young Sailor of the Year is a more recent addition to the awards, starting in 1993. Handed out annually, several winners have gone on to win the Yachtsman award. This coupled with the Young Blogger of the Year, encourage future generations to get involved in sailing and to strive to reach ever greater heights in the world of sailing.

Clifford Webb, YJA Chairman said, "I'd like to thank the MS Amlin Yacht management team for their commitment to The Yachting Journalists' Association membership with this sponsorship, which we feel will be a significant and mutually beneficial one, creating what should be a glittering evening of celebration in September."

MS Amlin insure all types of craft enabling everyone who loves being out on the water to have peace of mind and enjoy their boating lifestyle. We thrive from getting involved and giving something back to all areas of the industry. From exhibiting at Crick Boat Show on the inland waterways, to sponsoring sailing events such as the YJA Awards and the Round the Island Race, we hope that we enable everyone to live their unique boating lifestyle to the full.

To find out more about MS Amlin's boat insurance policies visit www.boatinsure.co.uk or phone for a quote on 01732 223650.