Young sailor crowned 'Yacht Idol'

By David Fuller
BBC News Online, Portsmouth

Sophie Luther (left) was declared the winner by Emma Richards (right)

There was no Ant and Dec to announce the winner of 'Yacht Idol' 2004, but apart from that all the ingredients for a reality TV show were there.

Five hundred young hopefuls enter a competition to win a dream contract.

This is whittled down to 10 ambitious, talented young people - all eager to perform for both the judges and the cameras.

They then compete against each other while living together in a small communal space.

Lastly there is a tense final hour before the announcement of a winner who could go on to perform in front of crowds around the world.

Expensive sport

The competition to find a young sailor to join record-breaking solo yachtswoman Emma Richards' team Pindar began in December.

The final two days in Portsmouth were all about putting the finalists through different sailing tests for the 14-strong judging panel, including Emma Richards, to decide the winner.

"The best thing I know"
Why the 10 finalists love sailing

In pictures

The 10 hopefuls, all aged between 20 and 23, were four sailors from Hampshire, two from the USA, and one each from south Wales, London, Ireland and France.

The winner would be rewarded with a three-year contract with Pindar, to participate in some of the leading ocean races and learn and compete on the world stage.

They all appreciated what the prize meant, an opportunity to bypass the constant search for funding and sponsorship that dogs almost everyone in this expensive sport.

As Emma Richards told BBC News Online during Wednesday's presentation: "I spent at least eight months on the phone and writing letters to get the money to be able to do anything - I feel like I wasted two years of my career."

'Short-cut'

One of the finalists, James White, 20 from Hamble, Hampshire, admitted that while sailing skills was important, being skilled at PR was just as vital.

"You have to be an ambassador for the sport and the team, to be friendly and approachable at all times.

"The shore side of things is just as important as the sailing."

Another finalist, Tara Thomas, from Maryland, USA agreed: "It's a chance to jump start your career - this sport is so driven by money it's a chance to take a short-cut.

Even Rod Carr of the Royal Yachting Association, which has been criticised for not supporting off-shore sailing, admitted they should do more to support it.

The winner goes on to race across the world

"It's about doing stuff which grabs the nation's attention and raises sailing's profile," he said in his speech to the 10 young sailors.

"Whatever's going on with the Olympics, the public relate to stuff like Emma (Richards) does.

"It's about keeping sailing in the headlines."

Finally Emma Richards took to the stage to announce the winner - Sophie Luther, 23, from Eltham, south-east London - who will join her team for the next three years.

Emma Richards admitted to feeling responsible for how Sophie would do.

"It's up to her now, we've given her the chance, but it's now down to her ability."

For the other nine finalists, it was back to reality - grateful for the experience of the last few days, but under no illusions how difficult it can be to make it in the sport.