Australian Sailing is pleased to announce the finalists in the 2026 NSW & ACT Sailing Awards. The NSW & ACT Sailing Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements, dedication and contributions of sailors, clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and industry leaders from across our sailing community. Congratulations to all finalists recognised this year for their excellence both on and off the water!

Join us on Saturday 19 September 2026 to celebrate all finalists and to announce the winners. Event details and tickets are available here: sailing.org.au/events/364571

2026 Finalists – NSW & ACT

Club of the Year – Category A

• Canberra Yacht Club
• Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Lake Macquarie Yacht Club
• Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Club of the Year – Category B

• Carcoar Dam Sailing Club
• Hunters Hill Sailing Club
• Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project

Male Sailor of the Year

• Andy Green – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Ben Lamb – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Cole Tapper – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• James Mayo – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron / Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club

Female Sailor of the Year

• Jiang Lin – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Lyndall Patterson – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
• Sarah Lee – Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club / St George Sailing Club
• Zoe Dransfield – Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club

Youth Sailor of the Year

• Connor Radford – Belmont 16ft Sailing Club
• Healy Ryan – Double Bay Sailing Club
• Mia Austin & Zara Marks – Woollahra Sailing Club
• Walter Heeley – Woollahra Sailing Club

Team of the Year

• Bacchanal – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Brin Liddell & Rhiannan Brown – Wangi Amateur Sailing Club
• Kairos Racing – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Team Magpie – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Coach of the Year

• Brady Lowe – Australian Sailing NSW Performance Pathways
• Darren Bundock – Australian Sailing
• Victor Kovalenko – Middle Harbour Yacht Club
• Zac West – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Instructor of the Year

• Ian Murray – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
• Scott Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project

Official of the Year

• Evan McHugh – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club / RMYC Toronto
• Gerry Brooks – Canberra Yacht Club
• John Whitfield – Canberra Yacht Club / Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

Volunteer of the Year

• Gerry Brooks – Canberra Yacht Club
• Jackie Sapir – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Mark Hooper – Georges River Sailing Club
• Sean Wong – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project

She Sails Award

• Canberra Yacht Club SheSails
• Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
• NSW Opti Chicks Regatta – NSW International Optimist Dinghy Association
• Women's Sailing Courses – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

Sport Professional Award

• Jennifer Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
• Scott Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
• Simon Turpin – Lake Macquarie Yacht Club
• Tara Blanc-Ramos – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

Sport Promotion Award

• Alessio De Giosa – Hunters Hill Sailing Club / NSWIODA
• Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club
• Sail Port Stephens – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
• Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project

Innovation Award

• Helm – Making Waves Foundation
• BYRA Boatbuilding Program – Bayview Yacht Racing Association
• Terry Wetton – TP52 Class / Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

Other Awards

The Para Sailor of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will be announced at the NSW & ACT Sailing Awards Presentation.

Please contact Niall Powers, General Manager Club Support NSW/ACT, with any questions about the NSW/ACT Sailing Awards