Nominations for the 2019 Australian Sailing Awards opened today, with the sport’s peak awards expected to attract a strong number of entrants from across the country.

The prestigious awards now enter their 57^th year, continuing a tradition that began when Jock Sturrock won the inaugural Yachtsman of the Year Award for his work as Skipper of the America’s Cup challenger Gretel in 1962-63.

Nominations are now open for a range of categories including Male and Female Sailor of the Year, Youth Sailor of the Year and Sailor of the Year with a Disability amongst others.

This year will also see the introduction of two new award categories. The SheSails Award has been established to recognise those who have made remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement, promotion and reinforcement of women’s participation in sport. 2019 will also see the first winner of the Sustainability Award, which celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly replicable sustainability initiatives by individuals, teams, crews, classes, clubs or groups around the country.

Nominations open on Wednesday 8 August and will close on Tuesday 10 September 2019. Winners will be announced alongside the announcements of the latest Australian Sailing Hall of Fame inductees at a Gala Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney, Darling Harbour on Friday 18 October 2019.

Click here to submit your nomination today.