Youth Sailor of the Year
2023-24 Healy Ryan
Ryan's recent success include finishing 2nd overall at the 2024 Youth European Championships to become the Under 17 Champion. He is also the current Under 17 Champion in Australia after finishing 4th in the Australian ILCA 6 Open Championship.
2022-23 Harry Joyner
A talented iQFoil athlete with an incredible work ethic, Harry Joyner, has represented Australia internationally at the highest level of Youth and IQFOiL competition over the past year. Participating in various Youth Championship events, most notably the iQFOiL European Championships held in Lake Garda in July 2023, where, having led the 400+ contestant regatta throughout qualifying, he ultimately placed second in the outright one-race final.
2021-22 Evie Saunders
Evie Saunders is an up-and-coming ILCA6 sailor with a proven track record amongst world class fleets. She set herself apart this season by securing the silver medal at the ISAF Youth World Championships at The Hague, making her the first Australian girl in 14 years to medal in the Laser class at the Youth World Championships.
2020-21 James Jackson & Harrison Chapman
Having placed 1st at both the Victorian and the Australian 420 National Championship, James and Harrison have cemented themselves as some of the top up-and-coming talent Australia has to offer.
2019-20 Scott Whitehead
Scott has been a Sailing Pathway sailor, growing up on his family’s cruising yacht and competing at state and national level in the Flying 11 and 29er classes. He is the current Australian Hydrofoil Kite Racing Champion.
2018-19 Will Cooley and Rebecca Hancock
The formidable Nacra 15 pairing chalked up a sweep of wins that include the 2019 Hempel Youth Sailing World Championship, Nacra 15 Australian Championship, the Nacra 15 Australian Youth Sailing Championship, Sail Melbourne and Sail Sydney regattas.
2017-18 Zac Littlewood
Western Australia’s Zac Littlewood, who was crowned the 2018 World Laser Radial Champion in Kiel, Germany against an open fleet of 92 competitors from 25 countries.
2016-2017 Finn Alexander
Youth Sailor of the Year after he convincingly defeated a strong fleet to win the Laser class Youth World Championship. Alexander has developed rapidly since then and captured a first-placing and fifth overall at the Australian Laser Championships after returning from New Zealand.
2015-2016 Alistair Young
Alistair placed first in both the 2015 Australian Laser Nationals and Youth National Championships and third at Queensland Youth Week in the Laser Radial class. His outstanding results and consistent performance were recognised by his selection in the 2015 Australian Youth Team. Alistair represented Australia in the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia where he was crowned the ISAF Youth World Laser Radial Champion in the highly competitive fleet >> Nomination Citation
2014-15 Kyle O’Connell & Tom Siganto
Kyle O’Connell and Tom Siganto have been part of the Southport Yacht Club Youth Squad for six years in the Sabot and Optimist programs before transitioning to the 29er. The pair won the Australian Youth Championships in January before going on to win the 2015 29er World Championships. The championship came down to the last race and just one point. Kyle and Tom weren’t sure they had won until they arrived ashore. Both learnt to sail at the Southport Yacht Club and have given their time to assist with the Club’s Discover Sailing Days. Tom is now a part time coach around his sailing requirements, regularly coaching for the Club’s Junior Squad to pass on knowledge to the younger kids getting into the sport. His work with the Optimist, Bic and 29er squads will hopefully provide more future champions in the sport >> Nomination Citation
2013-14 Kurt Hansen & Harry Morton
Kurt and Harry won both the Open and Youth division at the Open 29er World Championships. This impressive win came after a series of solid results throughout the year including, 1st at the 2014 North American 29er Championships, 2nd at the 2013/14 Australian 29er Championships and the 2013/14 Australian Youth Championships. Harry also won the Junior Contender Worlds Championships in January 2014, making him World Champion in two classes for 2014.
2012-13 Carrie Smith & Ella Clark
The young duo displayed maturity beyond their years in winning gold in the 420 girls class at the 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Cyprus in July. Smith and Clark also triumphed at the Australian Youth Championship and Australian National Championship in the same class.
2011-12 Mark Spearman
Mark finished with a Gold medal at the ISAF World Youth Championship in Ireland in the Laser Radial class.
2010-11 Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough
The pair won the 2011 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championships,before heading to Europe where they won Gold at Kiel Week in Germany before winning Bronze at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. They finished the year off in style by winning the Junior 420 Europen Championships in Belgium.
2009-10 Jessica Watson
On 15 May 2010 Jessica Watson returned to Sydney amid much fanfare completing her goal of sailing solo, and unassisted, 23,000 nautical miles around the globe. The then 16-year-old had captured the hearts and minds of both the Australian, and international, public during her 210 days at seas aboard her boat, Ella's Pink Lady.
2008-09 Gabrielle King
At the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Denmark, Gabrielle won Gold in the Laser Radial Girls class, successfully defending her 2007 title. Gabrielle also won the 2008 Laser Radial Youth Women's World Championship.
2007-08 Gabrielle King
Gabrielle was crowned the 2007 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion and the Women's 2008 Laser Radial Youth World Champion. Gabrielle also won both the 2007 and 2008 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championships.
2006-07 Belinda Kerl & Chelsea Hall
Belinda and Chelsea have been sailing together for only a short time but have accomplished a great deal. They were crowned the 2006 Australian Women’s and Youth 420 Champions as well as winning Gold at the 2006 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in the 420 class. Both are members of the WA Institute of Sport Sailing Squad and were named 2006 Yachting Western Australia’s Youth Sailors of Year. Both Belinda and Chelsea were members of the Silver medal winning West Australian team at the 2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
2005-06 Evan Walker & Kyle Langford
The pair became the first Australians to take Gold in the increasingly popular Hobie 16 class, doing so at the ISAF World Youth Championships.
2004-05 Nathan Outteridge
Nathan's achievements included a third consecutive double handed ISAF World Youth Championship, second at the single handed Laser Radial World Youth Championship and first at the Cowes Week under 25 Match Racing regatta.
2002-03 Nathan Outteridge & Ayden Menzies
Gold medallist in the 420 Boys class at the 2002 ISAF Youth World Championship. Nathan and Ayden citation.
2001-02 Melissa Bryant & Martha Leonard
Outstanding performances in the 420 class during 2001.
2000-01 Ben Austin
Gold Medallist in the single-handed dinghy discipline of the ISAF World Youth Championship
1999-00 Jesse Martin
At 17 years of age, the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop & unassisted around the globe.
1998-99 Lisa Charlson & Sarah Roberts-Thomson
Gold Medallist in the double-handed dinghy discipline of the ISAF World Youth Championship
1996-98 Lauren Jeffries
Australian Champion in the Sabot class – the first female ever to do so.
1995-96 Glenn Ashby
Open World Champion in the International A Class Catamaran
1994-95 Sarah Blanck
Gold Medallist in the single-handed dinghy discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship
Brendan Casey
Twice Open World Champion in the International Laser Radial
1993-94 Bryony Hooper & Amanda Miller
Silver Medallist in the double-handed dinghy discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship
1992-93 Australian Youth Team
Natasha Sturges - Sailboard – Gold Medallist
Beau Moulson – Sailboard – Gold Medallist
Ian Neely – Single Handed Dinghy
Maree Early – Single Handed Dinghy
Kate Fitzsimmons & Kathryn McQueen – Double Handed Dinghy
Michael Coxon & Christian Stevens – Double Handed Dinghy
Nautica Cup Winners at the IYRU World Youth Championship
1991-92 Natasha Sturges
Consecutive Gold Medallist in the sailboard discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship
1990-91 Natasha Sturges
Gold Medallist in the sailboard discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship
1988-89 Joshua Faddy
Bronze Medallist in the single handed dinghy discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship. Australian and Asian Pacific Youth Laser Champion.
1987-88 David Woods
Gold Medallist in the sailboard discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship
1986-87 Paul Burnell
Twice World Champion in the International Cadet
1989-90 Jason Muir & Dominic White
Bronze Medallists in the double-handed dinghy discipline of the IYRU World Youth Championship