Former RYA chief Carr receives CBE

FORMER Royal Yacht Association chief executive Rod Carr has received a CBE for his services to sailing in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

INFLUENTIAL VOICE: Former RYA chief executive Rod Carr played a major role in the development of three-time Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie

Carr was chief executive of the RYA from 1990 until his retirement in February of this year and saw Great Britain claim 19 Olympic medals, including nine golds.

He said: "I feel incredibly proud to be awarded with this honour. It was an honour in itself to lead the RYA during a period of significant change and development for our sport.

"Without the support of an army of committed volunteers, the RYA Staff and my family, my contribution and effectiveness would have been greatly diminished.

"Not many people are fortunate enough to have had a career in an activity that is their passion; I count myself as extremely privileged."

Carr joined the RYA in the 1980s where he worked as coach, racing manager and performance director and then as chief executive. 

He was the architect of the RYA World Class Performance programme for sailing and the grassroots OnBoard sailing programme which helps youngsters to get involved in the sport. 

Richard Langford, Chairman of RYA Council, added: "I was delighted to hear of this well deserved honour for Rod, achieved I am sure not only for his work with the RYA, but sailing more generally. On behalf of all the members of the RYA I would like to offer him our heartfelt congratulations.

"Rod has been involved with the sport of sailing since the early 1970s and with the RYA since the 1980s. Most people involved with boating will have benefitted from one or more of Rod's initiatives.

"He has been a respected ambassador for the sport of sailing for almost four decades and has played a key role in supporting the UK's interests on the sailing world stage for the last 15 years.

"Sailing has been Rod's life-long vocation and I am sure that he will be at the forefront of the planning and organisation for the forthcoming Olympics at Weymouth and Portland."