ISOBEL Hamilton from Holsworthy will soon pick up one of youth sailing's most prestigious awards, the RYA South West Region Young Sailor of the Year Award 2009, in recognition of her fantastic achievements during this year.

Izzy, 17, has also been selected by the committee of the Yachting Journalists' Association (YJA) to be one of three finalists for the YJA Pantaenius National Young Sailor of the Year Award. This is a fantastic achievement, with past winners including the likes of three-times Olympic gold medal winner, Ben Ainslie and record-breaking sailing superstar Dame Ellen MacArthur.

In April 2009, Izzy was third overall in the RYA Youth Trials, securing a place in the team which would compete in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. In July, while still 16, she competed in the ISAF Youth Worlds in Brazil where she look silver in the RS:X class.

About a week after that she raced in the RS:X Youth Worlds in Turkey where she took gold, becoming Britain's first ever windsurfing Youth World Champion.

She celebrated her 17th birthday on August 25 while competing at Portland in the IWA Worlds. Once again she took gold, this time in the Raceboard Youth fleet.

Less than a week after, the RS:X Worlds started and Izzy competed in that too. She finished in 21st place, the second Brit behind Olympian Bryony Shaw.

Now Izzy has been named for the Olympic (Skandia Team GBR) Development Squad.

"I've had a really good 2009 and really enjoyed my achievements," she said. "This award is a great honour at the end of a very good year."

On Saturday January 9 at the Tullet Prebon London International Boat Show, Izzy will join 12 other RYA Regional Award winners from all over the UK for  the eagerly anticipated awards ceremony, at which they will receive their regional trophies and the winner of the YJA Pantaenius National Young Sailor of the Year 2009 will be announced.