About the Australian Sailing Awards

The Australian Sailing Awards have been the premier off-water celebration nation-wide for several decades. The first Australian Yachtsman of the Year Award was presented in 1962 to Jock Sturrock, four-time Olympic representative, Olympic bronze medallist and skipper of the America’s Cup challenger ‘Gretel’.

The Youth Award was introduced in 1986 to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of sailors under 19 years of age.

In 1996, the Yachtsman of the Year Award was divided into two categories - Male Sailor of the Year and Female Sailor of the Year. Both awards were based on outstanding sailing achievements and good sportsmanship.

Also in 1996, the Media Award was introduced to acknowledge the significant contribution journalists make to the positive promotion and enhanced publicity of the sport, including print, online, radio and television.

The Para Sailor of the Year award was introduced in 2000 to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of those sailors with a disability who have overcome adversity and exemplified the spirit of sailing.

In 2008, the Sport Promotion Award was introduced to acknowledge an individual or organisation who has positively promoted the sport. Also in 2008, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented for the first time to acknowledge outstanding contributions to sailing of more than 20 years.

Four new awards were added in 2014, in the categories of Official of the Year, Instructor of the Year, Coach of the Year and Club of the Year, with nominations being given by State Associations. Also in 2014, the Yachtsman of the Year trophy was recomissioned and now holds the names of Male and Female Sailor of the Year.

In 2016, the awards changed from being called the Yachting Australia Awards to the Australian Sailing Awards, to coincide with the change to the company’s name.

In 2018, The Offshore Sailor of the Year award was introduced to celebrate the amazing achievements of our sailors in offshore events.

2019 saw the introduction of the SheSails Award presented by Hamilton Island as well as the Sustainability Award. The SheSails Award recognises the administrators or organisers who have made contributions to the promotion of female participation in sailing. While the Australian Sailing’s Sustainability Award celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly replicable sustainability initiatives by individuals, teams, crews, classes, clubs or groups around the country.

In 2023, the Club of the Year Award was split into two separate categories (Category A & Category B) relating to the size of the club, giving smaller clubs the opportunity to be recognised for their work growing the sport in their local community. Team of the Year Award was also introduced, recognising a crew of two or more sailors, from any category of sailing, who performed outstandingly in a sailing event(s) or other activity in the nomination period. The Team of the Year replaced the Offshore Sailor of the Year Award, with Offshore teams now in-line to be recognised as a part of the expanded criteria.

The Australian Sailing awards continue to celebrate the national sailing community, it’s dedication, resilience and success.