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 at the Tullett Prebon London 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.”

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.