Matthew Toynbee Youth Award Recognising Notable Achievements and Impact among Young individuals.
Revamped Recollections of Matt Toynbee: A Memorable Figure in the Sailing Community
Known and adored by many within the sailing fraternity, Matt Toynbee left an indelible mark, touching lives personally. RYA Scotland had the privilege of experiencing Matt's inspirational influence during his tenure as a cherished RYA staff member.
To publicly acknowledge and honor Matt's life and influence, we've taken a moment to celebrate his legacy. Early this month [June 2025], we honored Matt's memory by introducing the Matthew Toynbee Youth Impact Award - presented for the first time at the RYA Scotland Youth and Junior Championships.
This award, backed by Matt's family, aims to recognize and celebrate youngsters who mirror the values Matt championed:
- Steadfast Resilience in tackling obstacles, on and off the water
- Remarkable Supportiveness of their peers, fostering a strong camaraderie
- Unwavering Humility and integrity in their actions
- Burning Passion, fun, and creativity for the sport, and a readiness to learn and grow
- An outstanding Attitude, even when things don't go as planned
Initially, this award will be bestowed yearly, with the inaugural recipients being Ruairi Herrington of Largs Sailing Club and Finlay Davidson of Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, recognized for their transformative impact.
In time, we hope this award will offer another avenue for Matt's legacy and influence to persist.
Looking back at the profound influence Matt had on the Scottish sailing society, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and pride. Those fortunate enough to meet and know Matt will understand and cherish his myriad contributions to various clubs, centers, classes, coaching networks, and communities. They'll also fondly remember his unparalleled passion and irrepressible sense of humor.
In 2007, Matt commenced his career at sportscotland's National Watersports Centre on Cumbrae as an exceptional young instructor, imparting knowledge across dinghy, windsurf, and yachting. Matt stood out as a diligent and meticulous worker, leaving a lasting impression on those around him.
Matt later moved on, taking on the role of Chief Instructor at Port Edgar, where he helped countless sailors, young and old, discover their ardor for the sea.
From Port Edgar, Matt joined RYA Scotland's performance department, working alongside Nick Scott to aid exceptionally talented young sailors to reach their potential. Matt excelled in this role, eventually succeeding Nick Scott as the Performance Manager, allowing him to continue empowering and nurturing sailors on their journeys.
As RYA Scotland, we express our gratitude for Matt's commitment, dedication, and influential input throughout our youth and junior performance pathway. We are also profoundly grateful for the camaraderie, laughter, and anecdotes Matt shared with the team over the years.
RYA Director of Racing, Nick Scott, reminisced about Matt:
"Matt poured his heart into everything he did, from race marshalling to open-ocean racing, to dominating on his foiling gear. Matt was versatile and could turn his hand to anything.
"He was always the kind of guy who would lend a hand. If you needed help, Matt was the first in line.
"His zest for all things sailing was infectious, and I've met many sailors inspired to embark on a career in sailing after encountering Matt.
"An original thinker, Matt loved challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries in coaching, constantly seeking innovative ways to help young people unlock their potential in our sport - a fantastic coach, leader, and friend."
There is much to be said about Matt, and we appreciate that many within the sailing community have been reflecting and sharing memories over the past while.
We encourage everyone who knew Matt to engage in these conversations, and to continue reminiscing about his influence.
In the spirit of recognizing Matt's impact beyond the sailing community, perhaps we could establish a celebration of exceptional talents in football, embodying his virtues of resilience, humility, passion, and sportsmanship. One could name it the Matthew Toynbee Football Resilience Award.
Also, keeping Matt's legendary sense of humor, I propose we organize a fundraising charity football match, where sailors, family, friends, and admirers can gather and enjoy a game filled with camaraderie, fun, and friendly competition - characteristics Matt held dear in every aspect of his life. One could call it the Matt Toynbee Fun Football Festival.
