Sir Robin Knox-Johnston wins sailing honour for fourth time

Knox-Johnston is still competing at the age of 75

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has been named as the Yachtsman of the Year by the Yachting Journalists' Association.

The 75-year-old sailing legend finished third in class in the transatlantic Route du Rhum race last year.

Knox-Johnston's award is the fourth time he has won the title, with his first coming back in 1969.

Windsurfer Emma Wilson, from Christchurch in Dorset, won in the Young Sailor of the Year category after a phenomenally successful 2014.

The 15-year-old won both the Under-17 and Under-19 World Championships titles in Clearwater, USA, last October, to add to her European Under-17 triumph earlier in the year.

"I didn't think I was going to win," Wilson, who was unable to collect her award in London because she had a mock English exam on Tuesday, told BBC South Today.

"Last year was an amazing year for me - I knew I was fast but I didn't expect to win and everything came together in October at the World Championships.

"It's crazy. I just want to get experience and hopefully in 2020 I'll get to go to the Olympics."

Portsmouth-based Knox-Johnston beat off competition from Finn class world champion Giles Scott and Miranda Merron, who finished first in the Class40 Championship, to win the award.

"I didn't expect to win it for a moment," Knox-Johnston told BBC Sport.

"Giles Scott has done so well in the Finn class and I thought he'd get it so I sat back and relaxed - I'm still getting over it.

"It's phenomenal. I'm wondering what I'll do when I'm 85 now!"

The YJA also handed out a special Lifetime Achievement Award for Iain Percy in recognition of his work in creating the successful Bart's Bash charity to raise funds for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

Percy partnered Simpson, who died in a training accident in May 2013, to Olympic gold in 2008.