That’s right, Croydon Sailing Club’s Commodore, Geoff, was presented with one of the Royal Yachting Association’s most prestigious awards by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, in recognition of his commitment to RYA London and South East Region.

In nominating Geoffrey for the award CSC said: “Geoff has been Commodore of CSC for the past 15 years. His infectious enthusiasm and determination to bring sailing to a wider audience have been the driving force for this small club.

“He helped to draw up the development plan that steered the club to RYA Recognised Training Centre status in 2015. Supporting the Club Officers throughout the lengthy process, he also spent long hours preparing documentation and carrying out maintenance in the boat park to help ready the club for its inspection.

“Since retiring, he has used his spare time for further maintenance and, as a proficient eBay seller, he successfully re-homes abandoned and old dinghies.

“Geoff has successfully developed club initiatives to provide instruction for people wanting to learn and runs taster sessions for local residents who would otherwise never have the opportunity to sail. He has also encouraged the involvement of scouting groups, injecting new energy into the club.

“Under Geoff’s leadership and clear vision, CSC has grown from a club primarily focused on a handful of sailors racing on a Sunday morning into an RYA Training Centre that attracts both experienced sailors and non-sailors, creating a diverse membership of all ages and abilities.“

Find out more on the RYA website