RYA's ilovesailing winners unveil 2019 calendar
by Emma Slater, RYA 15 Sep 2018 20:38 BST
15 September 2018 (stand B032)
ilovesailing winners © Emily Whiting
Following six months of competition, 218 entries and 12 amazing winners the ilovesailing calendar 2018 was officially unveiled at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show (Saturday 15 September).
Five of the 12 winners joined the RYA at the show to help celebrate the launch and collect their prizes.
Ela Miller, who was a winner back in July with her photo entitled 'Into the light' commented: "It's difficult to believe I am a winner, it means such much. Some people think it is just a calendar, but for me, I have been following the page for so long, I feel so close to it, so having my picture in the calendar is a real privilege; all the pictures are amazing.
"Friends from Christchurch Sailing Club have joined me today for the prize giving as they have heard so much about it they had to come along.
"I also want to say thank you to the RYA ilovesailing for running the competition."
While fellow winner Errol Edwards who clinched his place on the calendar in April with his photo entitled 'Ellie goes Solo!' added: "It's great to finally see my picture in the calendar. The photo brings back very happy memoires of the journey I've enjoyed with Ellie earlier this year."
Each of the winners took home a copy of the brand new 2019 calendar along with a bundle of other prizes including:
- Two tickets to the Southampton Boat Show and a free afternoon tea in the Holiday Inn after the prize giving
- Canvas print of their winning entry
- A host of RYA goodies
- And....the much coveted 2018 black ilovesailing rubber duck, who compliments the black and white theme of the calendar.
Emma Slater, ilovesailing co-ordinator commented: "I absolutely love working on this project, it is wonderful seeing all the fantastic photos that are submitted each year. The ilovesailing calendar competition has been running for a number of years now but this is the first time we have had a particular theme.
"This year we asked for black and white images, spot colour was also allowed and we were inundated with hundreds of outstanding images, nearly double the entries on last year. The judges really had their work cut out each month choosing just two winners!
"The calendar competition is a great way to share all the amazing pictures people take while out enjoying sailing, all around the world, and we hope that everyone loves it as much as we do and gets one for their kitchen or galley wall."
The 2018 ilovesailing calendar competition winners are:
- Mark Smith from Ipswich
- Michelle Howell from Wakefield (2 x winner)
- Shaun Roster from Southsea (2 x winner)
- Errol Edwards from Bristol
- Steven Kaark from Lower Brailes
- Charlie Chandler from Solihull (2 x winner)
- Michael Forbes from Helensburgh
- Ela Miller from Christchurch
- Steve Cayley from Torquay
You can view all the calendar competition entries and winning photos on the ilovesailing Facebook page.
The 2019 calendar is available to purchase from the RYA stand (B032) at the Southampton Boat Show (14-23 September). Purchase a copy of the calendar at the show and you will also receive a FREE ilovesailing purple rubber duck! Alternatively, the calendars are available to purchase via the RYA web shop.
Calendars cost just £4.00. Stocks are limited so we recommend purchasing your copy as soon as possible.
The ilovesailing calendar competition opened in March with entrants submitting their favourite black and white sailing photos. Each month between March and July two winners were picked to represent a different month on the 2019 calendar. The final two spots were picked in mid-August from all the other entries made between March and July, giving all entrants two chances of winning a spot on the calendar.
The calendar competition is now closed for 2018 but drop by the ilovesailing Facebook page to take part in the extremely popular weekly caption competition, giving you a chance to share your funny, clever and witty captions in a bid to win an ilovesailing duck.
Details of the 2019/2020 ilovesailing calendar competition will be announced in March 2019.
Come along to the ilovesailing Facebook page and get involved.