David Kellett AM

'David Kellett AM was a trailblazer for Australian sailing administrators, climbing the heights of our sport's peak international bodies. He has shaped the sport and leaves a lasting legacy of leadership and passion.'

David Kellett learned to sail on Sydney Harbour, and by 1965 he had turned his focus to keelboat racing. Three years later, in 1968, he sailed his first Sydney Hobart. It was the start of a love affair with the race that has lasted a lifetime. David has now sailed to Hobart 45 times, 21 of them as skipper of some of the most famous maxi yachts in the country, including Gretel, Vengeance, Sovereign, Condor, Maxi Ragamuffin, Matador and Sydney. 

He took line honours several times, and in 1987 he skippered Sovereign to become the first Australian yacht to win the Line Honours and Handicap double. Two years later he steered Sovereign to victory in the Maxi World Championship rounds in the United States. 

David’s racing took him around the world. He sailed at Cowes, Bermuda and Hawaii, competed in the America’s Cup in 1970 and 1977, and was Syndicate Project Manager for Iain Murray’s Spirit of Australia America’s Cup Challenge in 1992. Hecaptained and managed the Australian team at the 1990 Kenwood Cup, a squad of more than 100 sailors. 

Off the water, David gave the sport just as much. He became a leading figure in sailing administration, serving at club, state, national and international level. At the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, where he has been a member since 1970, he served as Commodore and was elected a Life Member. He was President of the Yachting Association of NSW, chaired the Sydney Olympic Sailing Alliance in the lead-up to the 2000 Games, and served on the board of Yachting Australia for a decade, chairing its Offshore Committee. From 2015 to 2020 he was Chairman of Selectors for the Australian Olympic Sailing Team. 

On the world stage, David joined the International Sailing Federation’s Council in 1992, now known as World Sailing, David gave his time and expertise for almost three decades, which has had a lasting impact on the sport. He became Vice President in 1998, actingin this role for 10 years, he then served on the Executive Board as Treasurer from 2008 to 2012, the first Australian elected to such a high office. His responsibilities covered Olympic sailing, the America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race and professional sailing, and he served as Technical Delegate at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. 

His contribution has been recognised many times over. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2002 for his service to sailing as both an administrator and competitor, World Sailing’s most prestigious Beppe Croce Award in 2014, an Australian Sailing Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, and Australian Sailing Life Membership in 2020. 

David has been a Trustee to the Safety of Life at Sea Trust since 2014 and its Chairman since 2016, helping raise more than two and a half million dollars for rescue organisations and families in need. For decades he led the radio relay vessel team for the Sydney Hobart, and he remains Deputy Chair of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Committee. 

Still racing today, David Kellett has given the sport his skill, his time and his leadership, and the global sailing community is stronger for it.