English (UK) 
Pwllheli sailor gets prestigious award
Copy of Press Release by RYA:- 19 November 2010
Pwllheli sailor Gwyndaf Hughes has been chosen for one of the RYA’s (Royal Yachting Association) most prestigious awards, an RYA Community Award for Lifetime Commitment.
A total of 44 voluntary awards were presented to winners hailing from across the UK from as far afield as the Isle of White to County Antrim by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony held at London’s One Great George Street.
However Hughes could not travel to collect the award in person as he recovers from cancer treatment, after being nominated for his award by the RYA’s council members and was selected as a winner by the Awards panel for his work over almost 50 years at Pwllheli.
He instigated the youth sailing club at Pwllheli which has gone from strength to strength, after returning to the area in 1962.
“It is nice to get the recognition because the sailing club put my name forward, though it certainly came as a surprise. Unfortunately I could not travel, but it is still a great honour,” said Hughes.
“We started a group of youngsters which, with the help of Welsh Sailing, has got much bigger. Last year we had 60 children involved and this year it is 50, with five instructors.
“I used to do it on my own and then we could not have more than 15 youngsters, but with the help of the other instructors that has grown and grown as the youth section of the club.”
Sarah Treseder, RYA Chief Executive says “The RYA is delighted to make this award in recognition of Gwenydaf'ss enthusiasm, promotion of our sport and many years’ contribution to the North Wales sailing scene. The 44 RYA winners are an inspiration to us all and it is my pleasure to recognise and celebrate their hard work and dedication.”
Hughes will receive a commemorative medallion and certificate.
For further media information:
Hamish Stuart,
RYA Wales regional communicator
Tel: 07914 873451
Email:
Notes to Editors:
· The RYA is the national body for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating. It represents dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sportsboats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal watercraft. The WYA (Welsh Yachting Association) is the national body in Wales.
· The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of RYA affiliated clubs and class associations.
· The RYA also sets and maintains a recognised standard for recreational boat training through a network of 2,220 RYA Recognised Training Centres in over 20 countries. On average 155,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.
· The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please refer to the web site www.rya.org.ukwww.welshsailing.org
· RYA Sailability is the leading UK charity for disabled sailing and is the official charity of the RYA. Registered Charity Number: 1084351
· You can find the RYA at RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Southampton, SO31 4YA. The WYA is at 8 Llys Y Mor, Plas Menai, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 1UE. www.welshsailing.org
