A Kenilworth sailor has been recognised in a Midlands photography competition celebrating time on the water following the challenges of the pandemic.

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Midlands 'Photo February' competition invited members of clubs and centres to share their pictures of people enjoying getting afloat either within the region or further afield while 'on tour' for racing or cruising.

Roisin Ni Chonghaile, a member of the Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association (HOEOCA), was a runner-up with her photograph from the start of the 695-mile Rolex Fastnet Race 2021, which was taken using an DJI Osmo Pocket 2 camera.

Roisin, a financial advisor from Kenilworth, was one of 10 on board the First 40.7 yacht chartered for the race by HOEOCA and captured the team in action as the fleet got underway with extreme conditions testing both racing and seamanship skills.

She said: "It was a Force 7-8 and it remained breezy for the first 24 to 36 hours of the race before it calmed down. Some boats stopped for a bit, some didn't get over the start line and some didn't finish, but we stayed away from the crowd and kept going with our storm sails up.

"The race is a marathon not a sprint, and we're not spring chickens, so it's an achievement taking part and we finished in the top 100, which for a Midlands-based crew, we were really pleased with! We've done the Fastnet a number of times as a club since 2013 and this was our best club finish."

As the judges summed up when selecting Roisin's picture: "Real action from one of the world's most challenging races. The helm's composure belies the fact that a great deal is happening around the boat."

Roisin's prize is a Helly Hansen Ocean Dry Bag. The overall winner of the RYA Midlands 'Photo February' competition was David Eberlin with his picture of two youth sailors having fun racing at Notts County Sailing Club.

The RYA Midlands Photo February competition took place for the first time last year during lockdown three and invited participants to look back through their albums, or take snaps while out walking for daily exercise. The aim of this year's second edition was to celebrate the return to activities which followed, with entries highlighting the fantastic variety of ways in which people had fun getting back afloat.

RYA Regional Volunteer Team chair Steven Tinsley said: "The challenge as before was selecting photographs that firstly met the brief while also showing scenes of boating with exciting and engaging content and importantly, of course, people just simply enjoying their time on the water.

"To make judging even more challenging, this year we had a really diverse mixture of craft: windsurfing, wing foiling, foiling windsurfers, dinghy sailing and racing, yachting and narrow boating, plus some absolutely stunning atmospheric scenes from our clubs around the region.

"We were completely bowled over by the quality of the images. It seems that this year the photographers were determined to get the best possible shots of activity on the water, well done to all who contributed."

Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association provides opportunities for fun yacht sailing and racing for people living in the West Midlands and welcomes both experienced sailors and beginners.