On Friday September 9th the Victorian Sailing Awards were held at Sandringham Yacht Club. Trophies and Medals were presented for a variety of accomplishments including Vic Sailing Cup, Vic Dinghy Cup, School Team Sailing, Port Phillip Women’s Series, Range Series and Association Cup. Barranjoey Pins were presented to three past Olympians and the Australian Sailing Victorian State Awards were presented to the winners.

We would also like to encourage everyone who attended to complete a short survey about the event, if you would like to share any feedback with us please do so here: https://www.sailing.org.au/surveys/3725/

Scroll down to learn about the 2022 Victorian winners and view photos from the evening. 

Female Sailor of the Year 

Laura Harding 

The Female Sailor of the year award is given to a female athlete who has performed outstandingly in the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

Laura and her crewmate Annie showed themselves to be one of Australia's leading 49erFX teams and a team to watch on the road to the Paris 2024 after a successful 2021-22 season. They won back-to-back events at Sail Sydney and Sail Melbourne, but it was their breakthrough 4th place at the Hempel World Cup Allianz Regatta that stamped them as a team to watch on the international stage. 

Male Sailor of the Year 

Jack Abbott 

The Male Sailor of the year award is given to a male athlete who has performed outstandingly in the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

Jack has been a high-performance foiler for a couple of years competing on the international stage with his Waszp Sailing. During the covid lockdown, Jack took up wingfoiling and trained almost every day all year round to develop his craft. 

Offshore Sailor of the Year  

Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert 

The offshore Sailor of the year award is given to an who has performed outstandingly in offshore competition and the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

Alex and Andrew did extremely well in the ORCV Apollo Bay Race, placing 1st in PHS, AMS and DhHC, all while competing double-handed against fully crewed teams. Alex and Andrew have done RMYS proud at many other ocean and club races including ORCV’s Coastal Sprint and King Island race. 

Sailor of the Year with a Disability 

Alison Weatherly 

The Sailor of the Year with a disability award is given to an athlete who is classified, or is eligible for classification, under the World Sailing Rules of Para Classification, the Virtus Athlete Eligibility Criteria or, the Deaflympics Athlete Eligibility Criteria and who has performed outstandingly in the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

Alison is committed to her sailing and is an active member of the Class Association, acting as the Victorian representative and organizing Victorian State Championships and training events. She is also part of Sailability Victoria. 

Youth Sailor of the Year 

Jack Eickmeyer 

The Youth Sailor of the year award is given to an athlete under the age of 21 who has performed outstandingly in the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

Across the 2021/22 sailing season Jack put together an outstanding body of results. His achievements reflect years of dedication to the sport of sailing. In recent years Jack's consistently strong results on a state and national level have seen him rewarded with scholarships to the Victorian Institute of Sport. 

Junior Sailor of the Year 

Aidan Simmons 

The Junior Sailor of the year award is given to an athlete under the age of 16 who has performed outstandingly in the sport of sailing within the nomination period.  

After an outstanding 2020/2021 sailing season, which saw Aidan win 8 regattas including the Australian Optimist National Championship, Aidan has taken his sailing to an even higher level including winning the Australian Optimist Championship for the second consecutive year, and strong podium results in both the Victorian and New South Wales Laser State Championships.  

Coach of the Year 

Jack Lewis 

The Coach of the year award is awarded to an Australian Sailing qualified coach that demonstrates great sportsmanship,  is known for their self-development and leadership and contributes to quality performance.  

Jack Lewis has been incredible these past two seasons and sacrificed so much for his young proteges to thrive. Over the past two seasons, in particular the 2021/22 season, Jack has given up every weekend to get athletes on the water. Jack's score position has been the head optimist coach at SSCBC where he mentored a strong squad of sailors, ranging from Green fleet to Open, whom all have a goal to reach the Victorian Optimist Sailing Team (VOST). 

Club of the Year 

Albert Park Yacht Club 

The Club of the year award is awarded to the club that shown outstanding membership growth, participation growth along with events, promotions, and governance. 

Albert Park Yacht Club has made strong efforts to connect with their local community including working with middle eastern heritage groups, partnering with albert park college, and conducting female training programs including a mother daughter program. In 2021-2022 they restructured their training to membership pathway to increase membership by 10%. In addition, they hosted a variety of large-scale events in collaboration with their 150-year celebrations.  

Discover Sailing Center of the Year  

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron 

The Discover Sailing Centre of the year award is awarded to the center that has contributed to the conduct of significant events and programs, while developing themselves and the leadership of others.  

BYS saw over 500 course participants and consistently offered a large variety of AS programs.

Instructor of the Year 

Zoe Morris 

The instructor of the year award is an award give to an instructor that has demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development and leadership, along with most importantly great sportsmanship.  

Zoe has been a member of Somers Yacht Club all her life and learnt to sail herself through Somers Yacht Club Sailing School. She has been an instructor for the last 3 seasons and an assistant instructor for 4 seasons prior. She has taught both juniors and adults in learn to sail courses. Her passion and enthusiasm for sailing is seen through her manner while teaching and also around the club on race days. She creates fun while teaching and thinks well on her feet, considering safety and the best learning out comes for the participants. 

Official of the Year 

Andre Blasse 

The Official of the year is an award given to an official that has contributed their expertise to the conduct of significant events and, demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development and leadership. 

Andre’s volunteer work, and International and local influence, is largely unseen by the greater sailing community. Andre has served as a volunteer at the highest level for more than 2 decades, including 3 Olympic Games, and endless international and local regattas. Andre’s volunteering covers several disciplines: Measurement, Race Management & Sailing Administration. 

Volunteer of the Year 

Peter Kinsman 

The Volunteer of the year award is given to a volunteer who had a significant voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing as a whole.  

Peter is a voluntary sailing instructor for Rye Yacht Club, he acts as club secretary, he has aided the club with many grant applications. He assists with the club newsletter, manages external clubhouse booking and events, maintains the membership list and boat register and so so so much more. 

SheSails Award 

Lee Renfree  

The SheSails award is an award given to an individual, group of club that has made an outstanding contribution to the female participation in sailing.  

Lee is not only the Commodore of Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club but has spent the last 12 months establishing and running the KISS (keelboat introduction to Sailing Savvy) that takes passengers to participants. The KISS program focused on enhancing confidence in female sailors through webinars and practical components, culminating in a female helms race. In addition to the KISS program she also created the First Mates club to connect women at anchoring destinations. 

Sport Professional Award 

Rod Austin 

The Sport Professional award is awarded to an exceptional individual who has positively contributed to sailing in area including instructing, coaching, officiating, management and administration.  

Rod Austin has embraced and expanded HBYC’s vision to be more than just a club and helped to elevate the club into the thriving, inclusive and community-focused organization that it is today. Rod is now part of the fabric of the club and has been embraced by members of all levels. His enthusiasm for the club, the sport of the sailing and the community of Williamstown – as well as the wider sailing community – has given the club a vibrant edge and led to an almost 10% increase in membership. Under Rod’s management, the club has introduced a broad range of programs that promote sailing as a welcoming, inclusive sport for people of all ages and ability levels, as well as a hub for social activities. His talent for networking led to the introduction of the highly successful Commodore's Business Lunch that raised $10,000 towards a rib for the juniors. 

Sport Promotion Award 

Nick Bez 

The Sports Promotion award is awarded to a Club, individual or organization that has excelled in positively promoting sailing within the community through media, events of other channels.  

Nick Bez was recognized for his contributions to the growth of the Windersurfer community through his involvement in the Windsurfer Class Association of Australia (WCAA). In particular the outcomes achieved from the 2022 Australian Windersurfer Class Championship which established a large inventory of photo and video content for promotional use and strong social media engagement. 

Inclusivity Award 

GenOA Committee 

The Inclusion Program award is awarded to a program that has actively contributed to the increase of inclusive participation in sailing, that has inspired a change of behaviors and attitudes and shown desire to gully integrate disadvantaged into the sailing community.  

The generational outreach and access (GenOA) committee was established 18 months ago at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. The goal of this program is to created an inclusive space through holistic engagement that so that members aged 18 – 35 can feel safe and accepted. In doing so they have developed a voice for these younger members to advocate for their needs, creating enhanced opportunities and increased engagement for their target demographic and beyond. They are now hoping to inspire and collaborate with other clubs in Victoria and beyond.  

Lifetime Achievement Award 

Christopher Wilson 

The Lifetime Achievement award is given to an extremely deserving member of the sailing community who has been involved in sailing for over 20 years and continually displayed great sportsmanship and character within their tenure of contribution.  

To keep Chris’s contributions to just a few sentences would be near impossible. In fact, his original nomination was over three pages of content. To summarize, ‘Chris has managed to fit several lifetimes of achievement into his 84 years! Still active both on and off the water, Chris has been multi-faceted in both his participation and his service to the sport of sailing.’ Thank you, Chris, for all you have given to the Victorian Sailing Community and beyond. 

Honorary Lifetime Contributors 

In addition to our lifetime achievement award winner, we highlighted the lifetimes of contributions made by the following members of our Community  

Brian Jones 

Nominated by Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron for his significant contribution to the sport of sailing over the past 53 years, and particularly for his dedicated work with Sailability over the past 21 years. His contributions have resulted in the growth of the Sailability program in a variety of aspects and we thank him for all that he has given to our community.  

Ian Lane  

Nominated by Colac Yacht Club, Ian is a Life Member, long-time committee member, volunteer, coach, teacher, skipper, crew member, mate to everyone and an all-round nice guy! Ian has been around the sailing circles for over 60 years!  He has so many sailing achievements, championship wins, National and Victorian placings it takes a whole page to list them. He is the one everyone calls on for advice, tips and help. And because he is a bloody legend!! Thank you Ian for everything you give to our community!  

Martin Ryan  

Martin has been a part of the sailing community since the 1960’s when he joined Frankston Yacht Club. Martin has had many competitive achievements and has contributed extensively to the classic yacht community and making waves foundation. ‘Martin is the consummate gentleman. He is fun to work with and gets things done in a very strategic way. I have no doubt that our Foundation's work in Victoria wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for Martin's generous contribution.” – Julian Martin (Making Waves Foundation) Thank you Martin for all you do for Sailing in Victorian and beyond.  

Mark McLellan  

Mark was nominated for his extensive contributions to the Victorian Trailable Community. He is their acting President, the Castle Yacht Owners Association President, Noelex Association member Melbourne Trailable Yacht Club Committee member and Vice Commodore. Unfortunately, Mark passed away on Thursday September 8, 2022, surrounded by his Family. What is shared about Mark in these few short sentences will never encompass the incredible person that Mark was and the contributions that he made.  Our thoughts are with him and his family. Thank you Mark for all you have done to contribute to the Victorian Sailing Community, your contributions will not be forgotten.  

Barranjoey Recipients 

Pin 34 – Stuart Wallace 

In 1987 Stuart became the first Australian to ever win the Laser Worlds after a stellar performance on his home waters here on Port Phillip. Stuart also won two consecutive Australian Laser Championships in 1986 at Glenelg and 1987 at Sandringham. His dominance of the local and international Laser competition in 1986/87 saw him earn the title of Australian Yachtsman of the Year that season.  

Pin 125 – Owen McMahon 

Australian representative in the Men’s 470 event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Owen finished 23rd with teammate Tom King after a hard-fought regatta. A passionate sailor, Owen has competed in numerous other national and international events and classes, including at the 2012 Etchells World Championship where he placed first overall with Tom King, David Edwards and Ivan Wheen.  

Pin 166 – Glen Ashby 

Australian representative in the Men’s 470 event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Owen finished 23rd with teammate Tom King after a hard-fought regatta. A passionate sailor, Owen has competed in numerous other national and international events and classes, including at the 2012 Etchells World Championship where he placed first overall with Tom King, David Edwards and Ivan Wheen.  

Gallery 

Check out the images here of those that attended the 2022 Victorian Sailing Awards.