Lymington sailor Hattie Rogers named Yachtsman of the Year
LYMINGTON sailor Hattie Rogers (22) has become the youngest recipient of the prestigious YJA Yachtsman of the Year.
The accolade, considered the most prestigious in British boating, was presented on the main stage at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show on Saturday afternoon in Farnborough. Previous winners include Sir Ben Ainslie, Dee Caffari, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Dame Ellen MacArthur.
Hattie, who grew up in Lymington and started her sailing journey at the Salterns, said the award was particularly special because it was previously won by her grandfather Jeremy Rogers, who died last year.
In 1974 Jeremy won the One Ton Cup in the Contessa 35 Gumboots, famously abandoning the race to rescue the crew of a burning yacht, earning him the honour.
Hattie told the A&T: “I just couldn’t believe it when they announced I’d won – it was incredibly special not just for me but for my whole family. It was completely unexpected and a huge surprise.”
“I’m the youngest ever winner of the award – Ellen MacArthur was three years older than me when she won it.”
Now based in Weymouth, Hattie started out sailing in Contessas built by her grandfather and went on to study ship science and engineering at the University of Southampton. She has been sailing full-time since graduating last year and is currently training in Palma.
Described as "the face of the foiling generation" by esteemed sailing journalist Magnus Wheatley, Hattie won the SailGP Waszp Inspire grand final in San Francisco and is an integral part of the Athena Pathway Programme in the ETF26 Series.
She said: “My main focus now is getting the helming spot for the British Youth and Women’s America’s Cup team for 2024 in Barcelona.”
The Yachting Journalists' Association award winners were announced by chairman Clifford Webb and vice-chairman Mark Jardine. First awarded in 1955, Olympic gold medallist Mike McIntyre presented the trophy.
On winning the trophy Hattie said: "I didn't even expect to be nominated let alone win! It's just mad. Winning this award in the year that my grandpa died makes it really special not only to me but the whole family. A really proud moment for the Rogers family."
Yachting Journalists Association vice-chairman and Milford resident Mark Jardine said: "I’ve known Hattie for a very long time – I think she started sailing before she could walk! She lives and breathes the sport, and her achievements in 2022 were simply extraordinary.
"Some legendary sailors have won the YJA Yachtsman of the Year trophy but most poignant for Hattie will be her grandfather Jeremy Rogers, who won the trophy in 1974 and passed away last year.”
The last four winners of the historic YJA Yachtsman of the Year have all been women, including the first joint winners, Nikki Henderson and Tracey Edwards in 2018. In 2019 it was won by Lucy Macgregor, with Pip Hare in 2021.
