Long-serving Cramond Boat Club volunteer Andrew “Drew” Pratt has been recognised with an RYA Scotland Impact Award. The honour celebrates more than 40 years of service to sailing, training and community development on the Firth of Forth. Pratt has also received a national RYA Unsung Hero Award.
The recognition was presented during the 2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show held in February. Pratt’s connection to sailing began in the 1950s during family holidays in Stonehaven. A hired rowing dinghy sparked a lifelong interest in the water. By the early 1960s, the Pratt family restored a traditional Shetland fishing boat, introducing him to boat handling and coastal cruising.
He joined the Royal Yachting Association in 1967 and won his first racing trophy the following year. Soon after, he began instructing at Tighnabruaich, starting a teaching role that would shape decades of involvement in the sport.
Four Decades At Cramond
Pratt moved to Edinburgh in 1984 and was soon invited to help with training at Cramond Boat Club. The volunteer role evolved into a central part of the club’s development. Over four decades, Pratt helped build the club into a recognised sailing training hub.
One milestone came in 1999 when Cramond Boat Club secured RYA Recognised Training Centre status. Pratt served as Chief Instructor and Principal until retiring in 2025. “Sometimes I seem to talk about nothing but Cramond,” Pratt said. “There could be weeks where the tides have been right, and I’ve been out every day, every night.”
Reflecting on his awards, he added: “I’m taken aback, actually. It’s my love of sailing that’s kept me going.”
Legacy Of Training
Pratt has led training courses, mentored instructors and supported generations of sailors at the club. Cramond Boat Club Commodore Lawrie Elliot said his contribution has been critical. “Quite basically, there wouldn’t be any training centre here if it weren’t for Drew,” Elliot said. “He’s been instrumental in keeping it going.”
Elliot added that Pratt personally supported the training programme during quieter periods in the 1990s. “He’s a tremendous stalwart at this club,” he said. RYA Scotland said the award recognises Pratt’s long-standing contribution to sailing on the Forth and beyond.
