CORFE Castle sailor Mike Cemm has been presented with an Outstanding Contribution Award from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Cemm was nominated for his award by Swanage Sailing Club and selected as a winner by the awards panel for his work, regularly volunteering up to 30 hours a week to promote sailing.

He has set up youth and adult training programmes, plus partnerships with schools to make the sport accessible to local children and families on low incomes, organises the ‘Sail for Gold’ day, instructs on powerboat courses to build a team of competent support drivers, and assists those who wish to hone their race skills.

Cemm, who is the club’s berthing officer, also edits the club’s annual sailing handbook and manages the club’s Facebook pages to encourage short-notice social sailing.

Cemm said: “It is extremely rewarding getting all ages into the sport. The club is run by volunteers and it is great to see previous students now trained to be sailing instructors and passing their newly-acquired knowledge on to the next generation.”