Regional journalists are being encouraged to enter a new environmental writing award.

Yachting Monthly has launched a new journalism award in memory of Brian and Lesley Black, which aims to recognise the best writing about issues affecting the marine environment.

Applications are invited from anyone who has recently used a sailing boat to explore an environmental issue about which they are passionate.

Brian Black was a television journalist for RTE in Ireland and UTV in Northern Ireland, while his wife Lesley was a sailor and author in her own right.

Brian and Les’s daughter Sarah said: “From a young age Mum and Dad taught us about the natural world, particularly the ocean.

“We learnt how to sail on it, but also how to love and care for it.

“As anyone who met them could attest, they were both natural storytellers and they used that skill to share important information about the emerging environmental crises as they saw them.

“I hope that this new award will encourage others to do the same and share their inspiring stories about the challenges facing our seas today.”

Among other prizes, the winning entry will receive a cash prize of £1,000 and a donation of £500 to their environmental project or charity of choice, as well as the publication of their work in Yachting Monthly magazine and on its website.

Entries should be submitted by email to [email protected], no later than this Sunday, 8 August 2021.

More information can be found here.