Mark Rushall was announced as RYA Squad Coach of the Year at the recent Coaching Awards presented at the 2006 RYA Dinghy Sailing Show.

The award comes after coaching Skandia Team GBR’s Paralympic Sonar team, John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas, to their second consecutive win at the IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships in Perth, Australia. Mark has also worked closely with the RYA youth programme, gaining podium positions at the worlds and Europeans.

Mark, who is also a yachting journalist and feature writer, is an accomplished racing sailor in his own right with many championships to his name. In addition to RYA squad commitments, Mark has a talent for inspiring individuals to achieve their potential, at club, fleet and national level.