‘Jim has inspired countless youth sailors to achieve their best,’ said ISAF President Göran Petersson. ‘His energy, passion, dedication and sense of fun are invigorating. Those who have been coached by Jim are fortunate to have benefited from his expertise. ISAF thanks Jim for all he has contributed to youth sailing and youth sailors around the world.’

A message sent from Great Britain's two-time Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, one of Mr Saltonstall’s ferrets at an ISAF Youth World Champion during his time as GBR coach, read: ‘I just want to say a huge thank you from me and my generation of sailors like Iain Percy and Nick Rogers. Jim, you were the guy that got us into international sailing; you got us on the road. Thank you for all your efforts with British sailing and with the international youth here at events like this. You have spent years passing on your knowledge which has made such a huge difference to so many people. Not bad for a Queen's peasant!’

Reflecting on his 30 years at the Youth Worlds, Mr Saltonstall said:‘I look back at all that time and it's been marvellous to see so many of those sailors who've been through the Youth Worlds to go on to the Olympic platform and the America's Cup platform and go on to be successful.’

That’s the job satisfaction of being the ISAF Youth Coach as well as the GBR Youth Coach, he added. ‘I'll sadly miss it, I really will. It's been awesome.’