A Portland sailor who helps youngsters get out on the water is on the crest of a wave after winning a prestigious award.

Emma Bishop, 17, will be presented with the Royal Yachting Association accolade by the organisation's President, Princess Anne.

The award is in recognition of Emma's commitment to Castle Cove Sailing Club in Weymouth.

She was nominated for a Youth Community Award by her club and has been selected as a winner by the RYA Honours and Awards Panel.

She will receive her award at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony in London on Friday, November 16.

The RYA says Emma has been instrumental in the running and development of Castle Cove Sailing Club Cadets for the past 18 months.

She has reinvigorated the club’s training programme, ensuring race training is fun and enjoyable, and Cadet numbers have substantially increased as a result of her involvement.

An accomplished, competitive sailor and an excellent role model, Emma is a qualified RYA Dinghy Instructor and powerboat driver who provides support to the Cadet Officers and constant reassurance to the young sailors. She is now studying Activity Leadership and Leisure Management whilst working part-time.

Emma said: “When I discovered I had won the award I was quite confused and very shocked at first as I didn’t really know what it was, but then after reading through the letter which invited me and a guest to London to accept the award, I felt very excited and privileged because I didn’t expect anything like this to come of the coaching I have been doing.

"I wanted to start coaching the children at my local sailing club so that they got the same opportunities to enjoy sailing as much as I did when I was younger, I never expected any awards from it but I’m very pleased to be recognised.

“I am really looking forward to going to London for the awards, I can’t wait to meet other award winners, to hear about their stories and what they’ve achieved.”

The RYA is the national body for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating. It fights for the rights and freedoms of its 111,000 members, and also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating.

For more information about how to get out on the water in the south west visit www.rya.org.uk/go/startboating