Ifan James named RYA Yachtmaster™ of the Year 2011 

HRH The Princess Royal presented the RYA Yachtmaster™ of the Year Trophy to Ifan James at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show.

Ifan James from Pembrokeshire, Wales has been named the RYA Yachtmaster™ of the Year 2011.

Ifan was presented with the RYA Yachtmaster™ of the Year trophy by HRH The Princess Royal  on Wednesday 11 January at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show.  

Richard Falk RYA Training Manager said “Of the large number of strong and worthy nominees for this year’s RYA Yachtmaster™ of the year award Ifan stood out as an extremely clear first choice. As a result of his excellent performance in his RYA Yachtmaster™ exam in which he demonstrated his outstanding competence as a skipper.”  

Speaking after the presentation Ifan said “It was a real surprise when Richard phoned to say that I had been put forward for the award and then an even bigger surprise when he said I had won. In anything that I do want to be the best that I can and I will do my utmost to be my best”  

“My advice to anyone taking their RYA Yachtmaster™ practical exam is simply to have the confidence to believe in yourself and your ability”.  

The RYA Yachtmaster™ exam is tough and demanding in itself but Ifan also had the daunting experience of being examined by James Stevens, former RYA Training Manager and Chief Examiner.  

In describing his time on the water with Ifan, James said: “Ifan is a confident and competent skipper who is clearly at ease on the water. I felt relaxed and comfortable at all times with him in charge and was impressed by both his sailing and command skills.”  

Having undertaken some of his training towards the RYA Yachtmaster™ exam at Storm Force Coaching in Southampton, Ifan worked as an intern for the business and is now employed by them as an instructor. He will soon be off to sail in the Caribbean as part of Storm Force but not before completing his RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructor exam in two weeks.  

Ifan’s father, Owen James described Ifan as very self-driven and single-minded. Ifan taught himself to windsurf and was always in the water from a young age.  

Candidates for the 2011 RYA Yachtmaster™ award were entered by the RYA’s worldwide team of Yachtmaster™ examiners. The RYA Yachtmaster™ of the Year trophy was donated by the Royal Institute of Navigation.  

To find out more about the RYA Yachtmaster™ exam visit www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/exams.