Pete Goss, the hero sailor who gave up a round-the-world race to rescue a fellow competitor, has been named Yachtsman of the Year.

Mr Goss, from Torpoint, Cornwall, was chosen for the "outstanding seamanship" he showed in rescuing Frenchman Raphael Dinelli during the Vendee Globe single-handed race.

He sailed back 160 miles against 60 knot winds to find and rescue Dinelli.

Mr Goss, a father of three, was presented with the Yachting Journalists' Association award at a gala dinner.

The heroic action has already resulted in him being awarded the French Legion d'Honneur and an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

The award was made as Mr Goss, 36, announced he intended to compete in The Race - a non-stop no rules competition to mark the Millennium by making the quickest circumnavigation of the globe.

He is going to build the world's largest racing catamaran, measuring 115ft long and 60ft wide to compete in The Race.

Christophe Auguin, from France, won the Global Achievement Award for winning the 1996/97 Vendee Globe race in which he set a round-the-world single handed record of 105 days.
 

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