RYA National Award
Congratulations to Richard Thompson (Migrant) for receiving an RYA National Award, presented to him by the Princess Royal at a ceremony earlier this month for his contribution to the RYA Racing Rules Committee and other services, notably to Team Racing.
The RYA Awards are presented to outstanding individuals for their commitment and services to boating and the RYA at a national level. The photo of Richard receiving the award and citation follows.
This follows just three years after Anthony Lunch (Solitude) received an RYA Volunteer Award for lifetime commitment to supporting university sailing. Swallow sailors clearly make a wider contribution beyond class and club!
The Citation reads….
Richard was first appointed to the RYA Racing Rules Committee in 1998 and became Vice Chair in 2002.
He has led the Committee’s Submissions Sub-Team and was appointed onto the ISAF Racing Rules Committee in 2005. Since then, he has been the key contact in the rules submission process, as well as serving as the Principal Official of the UK Team Racing Association for over ten years.
Responsible for organising the National Team Racing Championships for many years for the Prince Philip Trophy, and chaired both the Team Racing Working Party (since 2009) and the Racing Rules Working Party (since 2013) of World Sailing, stepping down only this year. He has also supported and shown exceptional commitment to team racing, volunteering at many school, university and club team racing events as an umpire.
Richard has attended nearly 200 RYA committee meetings in London, always demonstrating diligence and attention to detail. His contribution has had a significant impact on the sport of sailing, both nationally and internationally.