RYA celebrates 125 years

Ellen MacArthur was at the Southampton Boat Show to help the RYA celebrate the anniversary

Throughout the Southampton Boat Show, the RYA are celebrating their 125th anniversary.

One of the feature events was the appearance of yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, who together with Ken Ellis of the RYA, released 125 prize winning balloons.

Ellen is preparing for the Vendee Globe, a non-stop round the world yacht race starting in November. Her profile shot up when she won the Europe1 New Man single-handed trans-Atlantic race earlier this year. She became the youngest winner of the race and the first female winner, beating several very experienced solo racers. Awarded the Yachtsman of the Year title in 1998, the youngest person ever to receive the award, she is still only 24.