Premier award goes to youth gold medallist

Sailing

Sally Cuthbert, a 17-year-old dinghy sailor from Stansted in Essex, won the premier prize at the first RYA British Nautical Awards presentation in London last night, writes Stuart Alexander. This year she won the gold medal in the IYRU World Youth Championships for the third consecutive time. In winning the Ancasta award for Endeavour she beat, among others, Lisa Clayton, the solo round-the-world yachtswoman.

The Sailability award went to Andy Cassell, of Cowes, and crew Tony Downs, of London, and Terry Willet, of Sheffield, for their gold medal performance in the World Disabled Championships. Cassell is expected to be named as skipper of the crew to represent Britain at the Paralympics in Atlanta next year.

Henri Strzelecki, who founded in Manchester the Henri Lloyd sports clothing company, was given a lifetime achievement award by the former King Constantine of Greece. An environmental award sponsored by Perkins Engines was given to the Surfers Against Sewage campaign.