Double gold medallist Cameron Douglas is honoured with Young Sailor of the Year prize

Dec 1 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

A TEENAGE sailor from Wirral will pick up one of youth sailing’s most prestigious awards in the new year.

Cameron Douglas, from Gayton, has won the RYA North West Region Young Sailor of the Year Award 2010, in recognition of his achievements in the sport this year.

The 17-year-old has had a fantastic year in the Laser singlehander class, and also found time to excel at team racing, a very different type of sailing in a team of three two person boats.

He took gold medals in both disciplines.

Cameron started the year by taking the gold medal at the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships at Weymouth, the venue for the 2012 Olympics.

Cameron is now the first youth in the UK Laser rankings, after taking 24th place at the Laser Youth World Championships in the summer at Largs in Scotland.

Abroad, Cameron represented Britain at the ISAF Youth World Championships in Turkey.

There he was the youngest competitor, but took 16th place out of a 50 boat fleet.

In team racing, Cameron captained the West Kirby team to gold at the RYA Eric Twiname National Team Racing Championships.

Cameron sails at West Kirby Sailing Club and Dee Sailing Club, where he helps coach younger sailors.

This year, he became the first sailor to win the Wirral Youth Sportsperson of the Year.

On Saturday, Januray 8, at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show, Cameron will join 12 other RYA Regional Award winners from all over the UK for a VIP day out at the show including the eagerly anticipated awards ceremony at which they will receive their trophy.

RYA Chief Executive Sarah Treseder said: “Winning an RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year Award is a fantastic achievement and I am delighted to recognise the talent of these people and the dedication they show for our sport.

“Awards such as this highlight the fact that so many young sailors are out there on the water enjoying themselves and achieving brilliant things.”