Jonathan Janson

Jonathan Janson’s first major international competition was at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics when he won the bronze medal in the Dragon class aboard Bluebottle, a boat that was a wedding present from the people of Cowes to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. Janson, along with skipper Graham Mann and Ronald Backus were true amateurs, and paid their own way for the four-day trip to Melbourne. Consistent racing, with the exception of one poor race, saw them take the bronze medal. Four years later at Rome, this time aboard Salamander, Janson and his team-mates could finish only seventh despite being in contention with two races remaining. After the Rome Games Janson continued his Olympic career as a member of the International Jury at four Olympic Regattas and for services to the movement he was awarded the Silver Olympic Order in 1990.

Janson was an outstanding competitor in the Redwing Class with his father Rex, and they regularly competed at Cowes. Jonathan also competed in four world 5.5 Metre Championships, finishing fifth at Miami in 1997 at the age of 67. He was over 70 when he competed in his final 5.5. Metre World Championship in 2001.

He devoted a lot of his time to he sport he loved and served on the committee of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) for over 30 years and was Chairman from 1979 to 1990. He joined the impressive list of winners of the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Beppe Croce Trophy in 1995 for his outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport. In 2005 he was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) in recognition of his contribution to the financial well-being of the organization and he was also a Life Member and former Commodore of the Bembridge Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight.