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The nine-strong medal-winning team included Ben AINSLIE OBE (Gold in the Finn - men's single-handed dinghy), Shirley ROBERTSON OBE, Sarah AYTON MBE and Sarah WEBB MBE (Gold in the Yngling - women's keelboat ), Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD (Silver in the 470 - men's double-handed dinghy), Chris DRAPER and Simon HISCOCKS (Bronze in the 49er - open double-handed dinghy), and Nick DEMPSEY (Bronze in the Mistral men's windsurfing).

The British Olympic medal-winners witht the YJA/Raymarine Yachtsman of the Year Award © Peter Bentley

The Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Award was won by Nick THOMPSON, the youngest male sailor in the RYA Olympic Development Squad. Proving he can compete with the best Laser sailors in the world, he sailed in a succession of events throughout Europe in the gold fleet in 2004, surpassing all expectations. Some of his many accolades include gold medallist at the 2004 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Poland in the Laser Class; 6th Laser Nationals (1st youth in the Senior Olympic fleet); 1st RYA National Youth Championship; Sports Scholarship to Exeter University; Michael Austin Harlick Award Winner (Outstanding Sports Person in Hampshire); and nominated for BBC South 2004 Young Sportsman of the Year. Nick was also Young Sailor of the Year in 1999 after winning the Optimist European championship that year.

Barry PICKTHALL, Chairman of the Yachting Journalist's Association, presented Mark TURNER, the manager behind Ellen MacARTHUR's many sailing exploits, with a YJA Special Award in recognition of his services to yachting and the promotion of the sport.