Three extraordinary candidates headline the Official of the Year finalists at the 2026 Australian Sailing Awards. 

Malcolm Hughes (SA), Evan McHugh (NSW/ACT) and Paul Pascoe (VIC) are all deserving finalists for the award, with contributions ranging from grassroots regattas to World Championship juries. 

The nation’s peak sailing awards will be held at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour on Friday, October 30. 

The Finalists: 

Malcolm Hughes 

An Australian Sailing National Race Officer since 2013, Malcolm Hughes is recognised as one of South Australia’s leading Race Officers and the first point of contact for clubs seeking guidance on delivering high-quality regattas. 

During the 2025–26 season Malcolm was Race Officer for a wide range of major events, including Youth Sail SA, the Australian Sharpie, Flying Fifteen and Fireball National Championships, numerous State Championships, the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race and Lincoln Week Regatta. 

His support starts well before competitors reach the water. Malcolm works closely with clubs and class associations on Notices of Race and Sailing Instructions, race management procedures, volunteer rostering, scoring and communications, helping South Australian clubs build a reputation for some of the best-run events in Australia. 

Malcolm is equally passionate about developing the next generation of officials. He volunteers his time to present South Australian Race Officials Seminars, delivers Race Officer training for clubs, and is a regular presenter at the South Australian Sailing Summits. 

Kind, warm and generous with his time, Malcolm has helped build stronger clubs, more capable volunteers, and a growing network of skilled officials across the state. 

Evan McHugh 

Evan McHugh contributed across the entire three-week program of the 2026 Sail Port Stephens regatta, serving as mark boat operator, Protest Committee member and Deputy Race Officer across cruising, grand prix, multihull and off-the-beach fleets. 

His Australian Sailing qualifications include National Race Officer, Regional Judge, Equipment Auditor, Mark Layer, Safety Boat Operator and Dinghy, Keelboat and Windsurfing Instructor, allowing him to contribute across race management, judging and on-water operations. 

Evan is an active and dependable member of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club’s officiating team, regularly supporting club racing and major regattas. He was Principal Race Officer for Lake Keepit Sailing Club’s 57th Keepit Kool Regatta and Cairns Yacht Club’s Ellis Beach Regatta, travelling and camping on site to support accessible sailing in regional areas. 

He also played an instrumental role in bringing together a network of clubs to deliver YouthSail NSW at Toronto Amateur Sailing Club. Evan’s officiating network helped secure interclub involvement, strengthening the event and building valuable cooperation and collaboration between clubs. He was Race Officer for the iQFOiL and Wing Foil course and took on whatever job was needed beyond that, from rostering to car park marshal. 

Trusted to chair protest hearings, Evan mentors Race Officers working towards National accreditation and will be Sailing Master at Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto for the coming season. 

Evan’s conduct consistently reflects fairness, respect and good sportsmanship. He remainscomposedunder pressure, is generous with his time and places safety and the quality of racing ahead of personal recognition. 

Paul Pascoe 

Paul Pascoe is the longest-serving international race official in Australia, having been a national and international judge since 1990, with experience as a judge, umpire, Race Officer and measurer. 

During the nomination period Paul officiated at six events outside Australia, including two World Championships, chairing the jury at the A Class Catamaran Worlds in New Zealand and the Etchells Worlds in San Diego. He also chaired juries at the Far East Cup and J80 international regattas in Beihai and Ningbo, China, and was a jury member at the China National Games. 

At home, he was Regatta Chairman for Sail Melbourne, Jury Chairman for the Sharpie Nationals and Principal Race Officer for the Aero Nationals at Blairgowrie, the Victorian Optimist States and the Optimist Kings Cup, along with ORCV starts including the Boxing Day race with 100 keelboats. 

Paul continues to chair juries at clubs around Port Phillip, runs the National Race Officer course, sits on the Victorian Race Officials Committee and has mentored a number of officials to local and international qualifications. 

Remarkably, this is the first time Paul has been nominated for the award.