Sailing enthusiast Neil Hopkins from Falmouth, has been honoured as a "maritime hero" in the nationwide nautical initiative, The Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Awards.

Neil, 58, was nominated by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for his outstanding club service and is one of 30 national semi-finalists selected from the many deserving entries from across the UK.

The annual awards competition is now in its fifth year, after being founded by Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky, known as ‘The Maritime Malt’, to reward the outstanding passion, commitment and achievements demonstrated within Britain’s maritime communities, at both a local and national level.

UK sailing clubs were invited to nominate any members they felt deserved recognition within one of the following three categories: club service, bravery or sailing achievement.

Neil has been nominated in the club service category by the RCYC. Neil is a dedicated member of the club, and gives up his own time to allow others to enjoy sailing. He often volunteers to prepare the safety boats, assist members in launching boats, maintain the club facilities and equipment and manage the website. Not only that, Neil also co-ordinates Falmouth Blind Week, and is a chief race officer and RYA qualified safety boat driver.

To reward his enthusiasm and dedication, Old Pulteney has presented Neil with a Maritime Heroes Awards certificate and a bottle of its award-winning 12 Year Old single malt. Neil will now be one of the 30 shortlisted sailing stars going through to the competition finals. If successful he will win £2,000, a commemorative trophy and a bottle of Old Pulteney 21 Year Old, which was voted World Whisky of the Year in 2012.

Margaret Mary Clarke, senior brand manager of Old Pulteney, said: “Old Pulteney is very proud to name Neil Hopkins as one of our 2016 Maritime Heroes finalists and we wish him the very best of luck for the next stage of the competition.

"This year’s awards have uncovered some truly outstanding stories of club service, sailing achievement and incredible bravery and it has been a tough field to judge. Our 30 finalists are all very deserving of their place on the shortlist and it is a great honour for Old Pulteney to be able to share their inspiring stories and celebrate the achievements of some of the UK’s unsung sailing heroes from coastal communities all over the country.”