Our 2025 Finalists for Official of the Year
Three extraordinary candidates headline the Official of the Year finalists at the 2025 Australian Sailing Awards.
Rob Hubbard (WA), Ken Semple (NSW/ACT) and Ian Ross (TAS) are all deserved finalists for the award.
The nation’s peak sailing awards will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Friday, November 14.
The 2025 Finalists:
Rob Hubbard
Rob Hubbard has dedicated his life to sailing, beginning as a junior in Pelicans and progressing to Dragons by the age of 22, a class in which he competed for nearly 50 years.
Born into a boating family, Rob’s enthusiasm for both sailing and powerboating has been a constant throughout his life. His volunteering journey began in his 20s aboard the powerboat Hiawatha, assisting with course laying for the 12-metre Southern Cross, marking the start of a lifetime of service to the sport.
Rob has played a critical role in race management for over two decades. Initially contributing as a mark-layer since the early 2000s, his work intensified during the 2011 ISAF Worlds. Over the next eight years, he became a central figure in laying courses for RFBYC-hosted regattas, including world, national, and state championships, as well as club events.
Since becoming a Race Officer in 2020, Rob’s commitment to precision is evident in his use of detailed wind-speed/time analysis tools to tailor courses for various classes. He has developed spreadsheets tracking elapsed times across wind conditions and shares these with his team pre-regatta, ensuring tight course planning, effective time management, and safe race completion.
Before every regatta, Rob leads comprehensive preparation—distributing briefings, operational procedures, and strategic planning materials. His methodical approach improves professionalism and maximizes volunteer understanding and satisfaction.
Rob’s commitment to the sport is driven by pure enjoyment and teamwork. He sees every race not as a task, but as a privilege—to be out on the water, working with like-minded volunteers and enabling sailing to thrive.
His passion, meticulous standards, and collaborative spirit have earned deep respect among peers and administrators alike. Though Rob humbly states he does not expect to leave a legacy, his mentorship, documentation, and leadership have already laid the groundwork for future volunteers and officials to excel.
Ken Semple
Ken has demonstrated exceptional commitment to his own development as a sailing official, strong leadership in the delivery of racing and regattas, and a consistent presence across both club and regional events. He is highly regarded for his fairness, professionalism, and calm, sportsmanlike manner in all official roles.
Ken achieved accreditation as a National Race Officer during the nomination period and continues to expand his officiating skills through Australian Sailing’s training programs. Ken is an active and dependable member of the officiating team at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC).
In addition to his race management roles, Ken regularly serves as a Protest Committee panel member and chairs hearings for both club racing and regattas. His understanding of the Racing Rules of Sailing, combined with his calm, impartial manner, makes him a trusted adjudicator in formal protest settings. Ken was protest committee chair at Sail Port Stephens conducting 12 hearings as chair of the protest committee(s) over the three weeks of Sail Port Stephens events.
He also demonstrates innovation and forward-thinking in the operational side of events. He developed and implemented a digital sign-on/sign-off system using contactless tags or bracelets, which has improved safety and event efficiency.
Ken is a leader who supports others to develop their skills — committed to learning, collaborating with his peers, and always focused on helping his teams deliver fair, safe, and enjoyable racing. His conduct is a model of good character and sportsmanship, and his presence strengthens every event he’s part of.
Ian Ross
Ian Ross is a highly respected and qualified Australian Sailing National Race Officer and a long-standing member of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.
Throughout the 2024–25 season, Ian has demonstrated outstanding commitment, leadership, and professionalism in race management across a wide range of sailing events at both club and national levels. His calm leadership and clear communication consistently foster a fair and welcoming racing environment for sailors and race management volunteers alike.
While Ian is always an integral part of the race management team, this season he has had an exceptionally significant year. He served as Race Officer for a long list of events hosted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron, including the 2024 Pipe Opener, pre and post-Christmas Twilight Series, Combined Clubs Harbour Series, Combined Clubs Long Race Series, the 2025 King of the Derwent, the Australian Yachting Championships, the Derwent Class 'Worlds' in February 2025, the Squadron Winter Series, and several class state title regattas.
Beyond his event contributions, Ian is deeply committed to developing the next generation of officials. He actively mentors less experienced race management volunteers, generously sharing his expertise and encouraging others to pursue their own officiating qualifications. This season, Ian ran an all-female Race Officer course, demonstrating his dedication to inclusivity and the advancement of women in officiating roles.
As a qualified Powerboat Instructor, Ian plays a key role in training volunteers and new sailors in essential on-water safety and boat handling. He also delivers the MAST Powerboat Course, further demonstrating his strong commitment to promoting safe boating practices within the Tasmanian sailing community.
Ian is always looking for ways to support the community, whether through formal instruction, quiet mentorship, or stepping in wherever help is needed. His integrity, sportsmanship, and generosity with his time make a lasting and positive impact at every level of the sport.
