William Hancock receives Southern Region Young Sailor certificate 

William Hancock, aged 12 was at the ‘Moppy Camp’ at the Salterns Sailing Club in Lymington on Saturday (03 March) to receive the RYA Southern Region Junior Sailor of the Year certificate for his achievements on the water during 2013.

William won the National Championship in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship 2013 having only entered for the first time in 2012.  His winning time in the 8 -12 age group at the National Final was also faster in all but one case in the 13 - 16 age group above him.

The Award was presented by David Brunskill, the RYA’s Western Solent representative. William was nominated by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.

There were two runners up.

Max Clapp, aged 14 of the Royal Southern Yacht Club has achievements in the Optimist class including winning the championship at six international events and being ranked 1st in the British rankings.

Milo Gill-Taylor, aged 14, is also an Optimist champion having won Bronze at the Optimist World Team Racing Championships and amongst other countless successes is Senior Optimist British National Champion, Irish National Champion, Belgian Open Champion and Winner of Bermuda Gold Cup Champion of Champions.  Milo is a member of the Spinnaker Sailing Club in Ringwood.