Rory Pollard was awarded the vessel by the John Merricks Sailing Trust.
The schoolboy, from Whitehead, is a junior member of Co Antrim Yacht Club, and is the only sailor from Northern Ireland to be chosen to receive his own boat.
He will have exclusive use of it for the next two years through the ongoing partnership between the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) and RYA OnBoard.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School pupil has had a difficult year after being isolated from his friends, but now plans to turn his dreams of sailing in national competitions into a reality.
He said: I felt over the moon when I found out I had been awarded the boat, I asked my mum and dad to pinch me to see if I was dreaming. I must have jumped five feet in the air!
County Antrim Yacht Club Junior Sailor Awarded New Boat by John Merricks Sailing Trust
16th December 2020
12-year-old Rory Pollard
Christmas has come early for 12-year-old Rory Pollard, who has been awarded a brand new boat by the John Merricks Sailing Trust.
Rory, from Whitehead and a junior member of County Antrim Yacht Club, is the only sailor from Northern Ireland to receive his very own boat. He will have exclusive use of the boat for the next two years through the on-going partnership between the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) and RYA OnBoard.
A Carrickfergus Grammar School pupil, Rory, like many young children, has had a difficult year after being isolated from his friends. However, he is now finishing 2020 on a high as he plans to turn his dreams of sailing in national competitions into a reality.
A junior member of Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club is celebrating after being awarded a new boat through a national scheme helping young talent to progress in the sport. Elizabeth Shilling (11) is among 10 promising young sailors from across the UK awarded exclusive use of their own boat for the next two years thanks to the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) and RYA OnBoard, the grassroots programme for young people run by the sport’s governing body. The boats will then be given to their clubs to benefit other young sailors. Launched in 2013, the JMST and RYA OnBoard partnership supports youngsters who display enthusiasm, drive, talent and commitment to the sport and who may not ordinarily have the opportunity or financial backing to achieve their goals, and the awards have been particularly important this year against the background of the coronavirus pandemic.