Harriet Steptoe beats 3,000 to become RYA Yachtmaster of the Year

Harriet Steptoe has been named as the recipient of the 2021 RYA Yachtmaster of the Year award. It reflects her exceptional demonstration of sailing and skippering skills during her RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence exam.

Nominations are put forward each year by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA)’s worldwide team of RYA Yachtmaster examiners. In recognition of the achievement, winners receive the RYA Yachtmaster Trophy, donated by the Royal Institute of Navigation.

“During her RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence exam, Harriet displayed an exceptional demonstration of sailing skills, and outstanding skill and knowledge as a skipper,” says Richard Falk, RYA director of training and qualifications. “This accolade is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. An RYA Yachtmaster needs a wealth of knowledge, not only to cope with plain sailing or motor cruising but also to be able to cope in the most demanding of situations. They also need the ability to put that knowledge into practice in the practical running of a boat.

“More than 3,000 people from around the world undertake the exam for the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence each year, so to be selected as the best is an incredible achievement and one Harriet should be extremely proud of.”

Steptoe, 22, started sailing on her family’s shared 30ft boat with her grandparents when she was very young. She says she was strapped into a car seat in the cockpit.

“For many years I think I was completely oblivious to the sailing element of it. I just loved being outside on the water, swimming and exploring. Most summers were spent cruising the West Country, Channel Islands and Brittany.

“This passion for the outdoors continued throughout my school years and I was extremely fortunate to attend Dauntsey’s School, which owns a 24m pilot cutter called the Jolie Brise,” says Steptoe. “I spent my holidays with some of my now best friends, taking part in the Tall Ships races and crossing the Atlantic with them when I was 16.

“Whilst studying at the University of Portsmouth, I continued to work on Jolie Brise both during winter refit and as first mate, alongside fitting in some other deliveries on bigger yachts gaining sea miles and experience for my Yachtmaster exam, which I then took aged 21.

“Now that I have my Yachtmaster qualification I hope to continue skippering boats and teaching sailing but with a primary focus on young sailors. I absolutely love working with young people, and hope that I can inspire many more children to build self-confidence and resilience through sailing.

“It’s so rewarding to see them develop as a crew and help each other out, particularly in tougher conditions. It is lovely to be able to teach those who are keen to take their sailing further and kickstart their journey into sailing and give them the opportunities that I had growing up.”

The RYA’s president, HRH The Princess Royal, presented Steptoe with the trophy at the RYA’s annual stakeholder lunch at Trinity House in London. In November 2022, the RYA awards panel revealed the 12 finalists for the 2023 RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award. Public voting for the winner closes on 23 January 2023.