HAMPSHIRE sailing duo Annabel Vose, 17, and Megan Brickwood, 16, have been voted top British youth sailors and presented with the prestigious YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award for 2011 at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show.
The award was made on Saturday, January 7, 2012 by double Olympic gold medallist and Skandia Team GBR sailor, Iain Percy, OBE.
Annabel, from Curdridge, and Megan from Hamble, kickstarted 2011 by winning the sailing Ladies World Title in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the 420 World Championships at just 16 years of age, and despite having suffered a broken mast in one race.
They then went on to win Silver and were first female crew at the Flanders Youth Regatta and won the Bronze medal at the 2011 Open 420 Junior European Championships.
Annabel and Megan, who are members of the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble and the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, also won the southern regional RYA young sailor award.
"We are so excited about being recognised in this way," said Annabel.
"2011 was a fantastic year and we are really looking forward to our busy sailing programme in 2012.
Along with 13 other regional RYA winners, they enjoyed a VIP day out at the Show.
The YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year award was first presented in 1993. Early winners include Dame Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie CBE, who both went on to win the Yachtsman of the Year title.
