The Outstanding Finalists for 2025 Para Sailor of the Year
The Para Sailor of the Year is awarded to recognise an individual's outstanding contributions to the sport of para sailing in Australia.
Last year’s national winner Genevieve Wickham (WA) has again made the distinguished finalist list with former five-time winner Chris Symonds (TAS) and former Victorian Para Sailor of the Year Peter Coleman (VIC).
The nation’s peak sailing awards will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Friday, November 14.
The Finalists
Genevieve Wickham (WA)
Genevieve Wickham is a standout in Australian Para Sailing, with a season marked by elite results, leadership and personal strength.
In 2024, she earned silver in the Inclusion category and bronze in the Open division at the RS Venture Connect World Championships in the UK, following her 2023 world title. At the Para World Sailing Championships in Sydney, she claimed gold in the Hansa 303 Women’s division, cementing her place among the best in the world.
Locally, Genevieve won the WA Hansa 303 State Title and secured both the Club Consistency and Championship Awards at Royal Perth Yacht Club. She competes regularly in both dinghy and keelboat events, reflecting her deep commitment to the sport.
Genevieve’s journey is defined by resilience, tenacity, and courage. On and off the water, she leads by example and is a passionate advocate for the future of Para Sailing. She is actively involved in promoting its reinstatement into the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games, using her platform to support the international campaign.
As she prepares for the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Oman later this year, Genevieve continues to inspire through her performance, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to making sailing more inclusive and competitive for all.
Peter Coleman (VIC)
Peter was awarded Victorian Para Sailor of the year last year and has had another remarkable 2025 season both on and off the water.
Peter had multiple first place finishes including the Hansa Asia Pacific Titles, Hansa Australian Champs, 2.4 Australian Championships and the 2.4 Victorian States.
As well as mounting his own campaigns in the 2.4 meter and Hansa Classes, Peter is heavily involved with Australian Sailing, class associations and yacht clubs in the promotion of para sailing and the running of events.
Peter has been a proponent of innovations to assist para sailors (audible buoys and suitable changes to sailing instructions) and also generates enthusiasm in others for volunteering, sailing and boat building - amongst able bodied and para sailors alike.
In 2024, in recognition of Peter's performance in regattas, Peter was awarded the RBYC award for Outstanding Performance in National and International Events.
Chris Symonds (TAS)
Chris is heavily involved with Wynyard Yacht Club and the local community, he is Commodore of the club and has been in this role for some time.
This season Chris took line honours at the Australian Hansa Championships - 303 Singles and also finished seventh at the World Hansa Championships - 303 singles.
Chris partnered with Samantha Bailey to achieve 9th place in the RS Venture Connect Worlds. Chris then partnered with Manuela Klinger in the Hansa 303 doubles to win the Tasmanian, Australian, Asia Pacific and runner up in the World Championships.
He is the Commander of the local Marine Surf Rescue and is always promoting how active the club is in the community. Chris is an active volunteer in the club’s Sailability Program supporting people from the North Coast of Tasmania to experience sailing despite their disabilities Outside of Wynyard Yacht Club.
Previous winners
2023-24 Genevieve Wickham
2022 - 23 Chris Symonds
2021 - 22 Chris Symonds
2020 - 21 Chris Symonds
2019 - 20 Chris Symonds
2018 - 19 Chris Symonds
2017 - 18 Chelseanne Osborne
2015 - 16 Australian Paralympic Sailing Team
2014 - 15 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
2013 - 14 Daniel Fitzgibbon, Liesl Tesch, Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris, Russel Boaden & Matthew Bugg
2012 - 13 Collin Harrison, Jonathan Harris & Russell Boaden.
2011 - 12 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
2010 - 11 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
2009 - 10 Angus MacGregor
2008 - 09 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox
2007 - 08 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox
2006- 07 Paul Borg & Kylie Forth
2005 - 06 Paul Borg and Don Scott
2004-05 Joint winners Jamie Dunross, Colin Harrison, Jeff Milligan
2003 - 04 Joint winners Andrew Hartley and Daniel Fitzgibbon
2002 - 03 Joint winners Paul Borg and Lindsay Dalmon
2001 - 02 Wayne Thomson
2000 - 01 Vinny Lauwers
1999 - 00 Peter Thompson
