RYA Presents Tom Stierle with Yachtmaster of the Year Award

The Royal Yachting Association has named Tom Stierle as its Yachtmaster of the Year 2025, presenting the award during Southampton International Boat Show on Friday, 18 September 2026. The presentation was made by sailor Mike Golding and recognises Stierle's examination performance and seamanship.

Stierle is a surgeon based near Basel in Switzerland. He developed his sailing experience on the Rhine and Swiss lakes before undertaking offshore passages in the Mediterranean and Baltic, and training in Scotland, Wales and the Solent.

Overnight navigation around the Isle of Wight

According to the RYA, the practical Yachtmaster examination included an overnight passage around the Isle of Wight. It required passage planning around tidal gates and navigation past the Needles at sunrise.

The annual award is selected from nominations made by the association's Yachtmaster Examiners. It recognises demonstrated examination performance rather than predicting future performance in every possible operating condition.

Training alongside medical work

Stierle took a three-month sabbatical to prepare, including time aboard a hospital ship where he worked as a humanitarian surgeon. He continued studying navigation alongside his professional duties.

He subsequently completed a Yachtmaster Ocean qualifying passage between Madeira and Gibraltar and passed the oral examination in 2026, according to the RYA.

What the qualification signifies

RYA Yachtmaster certificates are assessed through practical and theoretical competence rather than participation in a single standard course. They are earned against the applicable scheme requirements and the candidate's experience.

For professional and superyacht employment, credential requirements depend on the vessel, flag, operations and the role concerned. Candidates should verify which certificates are accepted before assuming that one award or qualification qualifies them for a particular position.

Future passages in view

Stierle intends to continue offshore sailing, with plans that include the Mediterranean and North Cape. He has also expressed interest in joining a Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crew.

The presentation draws attention to continuing learning and time at sea as routes into higher-level seamanship. The award marks a specific achievement within that longer development.