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The fund was established in 1984 as a memorial to Lt Colonel James Myatt,
a man who cared deeply for the interests of young people. His infectious
enthusiasm and boundless energy were key factors in the creation
and running of several sail training organisations in Britain in the 1960’s.

In 1996, the fortieth anniversary of the first STA race, one of the ports was
St Petersburg, the first time the races had visited Russia. Remembering
James's close involvement with 'new' races, The Trust decided to charter a
vessel and enter with a crew it had recruited. The modern German
schooner ESPRIT based at Bremen was chartered and a crew of young
Britons under the regular skipper, Thomas Hinzen, successfully completed
the series of races.

This charter was so successful that the following year a similar charter was
undertaken but this time half the crew were from Britain and half from
Germany. To everyone's delight, they won the premier trophy of each
year's series of tall ships' races - The Cutty Sark Trophy. James Myatt
would have been thrilled.

ESPRIT was chartered again in 1998, not in 1999 but for the 'Race of the
Century' in 2000 the Trust provided skipper, afterguard and crew to
compete in the final leg of the race, Halifax Nova Scotia to Amsterdam.
  • The Trust is honoured to have HRH Prince Michael of Kent, who knew James when they both served in the army, as its Royal Patron.
  • Baroness Platt of Writtle CBE DL is James's sister. She supported her brother's enthusiasms throughout his life and has done much in high places to support sail training.
  • General Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson GCB is a former chairman of the Trust and Sir John Palmer DL was closely involved with James in the running of the London Sailing Project and other sail training organisations.
  • John H Hamilton OBE, a former chairman of the Trust, was a close friend of James and sailed with him on the 1962, 1964 and 1968 tall ships races and served on a number of committees with him. He was race director of the STA from 1976 to 1992 and chairman of ASTO from 1986 to 2000.
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  • Paul Bishop was the first Honorary Secretary of the Trust and is closely involved in many aspects of British sail training. He is currently the Race Director for Sail Training International.
  • Ian Fairclough, the current chairman of the trust, is a brother-in-law of James and was a council member of STA from 1976 to 2001.
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  • Mrs Fiona de Fonblanque was married to James from 1968 until his death and gave him an enormous amount of support in all his activities and enthusiasms.
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  • Janet Gauntlett is the honorary secretary of the Trust. She has been the Race Director’s Secretary since 1988 and has been with JMMT since 1983.
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  • Vicky Platt is James's niece, who also shares his passion for sailing.
  • Brigadier Trefor Jones OBE sailed with James in the 1962 race and was a life-long friend and fellow army officer.
  • Tim Myatt is James's son. Although too young to have done any 'serious' sailing with his father, he remembers his encouragement of other young people to take part in adventurous activities.
  • Colonel Billy King-Harman CBE sailed with James as a crew member on the yacht Tawau in the 1964 Tall Ships Transatlantic Race, and later with the Gunner Yacht Club, whilst both serving in the Royal Artilliary.
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