Congratulations to the winners of the NSW/ACT Sailing Awards for 2023!  

Performance Awards 

Female Sailor of the Year 

Winner: Zoe Thomson (Not present on the award night) 

Zoe has achieved highly competitive results in European ILCA regattas over the last year. She gives back to the community and shows sportsmanship and excellence when she is competing overseas representing Australia. Zoe is on her way to achieving her dream of representing Australia at an Olympic Games. 

Male Sailor of the Year 

Winner: Tom Slingsby (Not present on the award night) 

Tom Slingsby led Australia to an unprecedented three-peat in Season 3 of SailGP when they won the Grand Final in San Francisco. No other team has won a SailGP series thanks to Tom's leadership of the Australian team who have become ruthless competitors under the pressure of the winner-takes-all Grand Final. 

Para Sailor of the Year 

Winner: Lachlan Clear  

Lachlan is a founding member of Deaf Sailing NSW. This season he has contested the NSW and VIC Hansa Class Championships and travelled to Hiroshima in October for the Asia-Pacific Hansa Class Championships and Para Sailing World Championships in the Liberty. He is the driving force behind NSW Deaf Sailing which has run several training days for novice and developing deaf sailors. Lachlan is now preparing for the 2023 Hansa Class World Championships in Portugal in October. 

Team of the Year 

Winner: Joel Beashel & Logan Radford 

In the past year Joel and Logan have campaigned their 29er to win the NSW Youth Champs, NSW State Champs, 29er national champs, the Combined High Schools and the East Coast Champs, they also came 3rd at Sail Sydney. 

Youth Sailor of the Year 

Winner: Louis Tilly  

The past 12 months have seen Louis gain many first and second places at State, National and International levels in the WASZP as well as representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in Match Racing. Louis has instigated and instructed at several “Try a WASZP” days at the RPAYC. Louis supports the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics charity by carrying their name and logo on his WASZP sails and entering his boat as “2 FAST” in events. 

Coach of the Year 

Winner: Michael Wiley     

Michael has created a coaching program that is unique in Australia. Focussing on twin wire skiffs the program takes beginners straight to skiff sailing and helps them become highly competent at a national level. This program has increased the club’s membership especially in younger and female members. Through one on one coaching on water, theory and shore based training as well as fostering social connections, Michael’s program has survive COVID and floods and currently has 32 participants, including 28 are women. 

Club of the Year – Category A  

Winner: Woollahra Sailing Club 

Woollahra Sailing Club has undertaken several endeavours in the past 12 months. They invested in new equipment for the sailing school, supported young sailors to gain instructor accreditation. Engaged with several schools in the area, seeing 60+ students a week take part in training programs and camps. They hosted many national and state championships including OK Dinghy, Finn, 29ers and Sail Sydney. The club developed a community collaboration with a wing foiling training business to further enhance the programs they offer. All these efforts have seen the club achieve a significant growth in membership. 

Club of the Year – Category B 

Winner: Richmond River Sailing & Rowing Club 

This volunteer run club runs a very successful program coaching people with little or no sailing background to become crews, and subsequently skippers, of high-performance twin wire skiffs. The club has developed a program that attracts and retains participants, with a large number of women becoming competent skiff sailors.  The club is run entirely on a volunteer basis. Especially during the current year, we have directed our efforts to increasing the qualifications and skills base of our volunteers. 

Instructor of the Year 

Winner: Natasha Nisbet 

Becoming an instructor in the beginning of 2021, Natasha has taken to the role with incredible talent and commitment, becoming one of the most respected staff members within Woollahra Sailing Club. She was voted WSC instructor of the year 2023. This award is voted by 60 of her peers within the club and a great testament to the support she gives to her workmates and the quality of the work she does. Her contribution to the club and the sailing school have helped it to grow and to become one of the busiest Discover Sailing Centres the country. 

Volunteer of the Year 

Winner: Bill Sharland 

SPASC relies solely on volunteer members to fulfil the many roles needed to support club activities and Programs. Bill Sharland, has been at the core of many of the new programs undertaken by the club over the last couple of years. Bill is Secretary and Public Officer and has also developed the club’s Strategic Plan, Safety Management Plan, applied for grants, writes the club e-News, set up the club’s RevSport site and is the Discover Sailing Centre Principal. He is a key assistant to our Junior Sailing Program Manager, helping to launch our Junior program and provide information to Parents and New Members, and even camping coordinator for visiting sailors. Bill's sheer breadth of work, all done with flair and attention to detail, has underpinned the Club's progress from an enthusiastic but declining local club to a revamped and rejuvenated sailing venue. He has not done this alone, having a great group of Volunteers assisting and supporting these initiatives, but Bill has gone above and beyond an unpaid role to help bring the club up to a higher standard of internal management and external community engagement. 

Official of the Year 

Winner: Damien Boldyrew (Not present on the award night) 

Damien possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise that he generously shares with the sailing community. His passion for the sport is infectious and he regularly delivers masterclasses at local clubs, helping members to increase their understanding of sailing principles. His leadership on and off the water sets a positive example for all participants and officials, fostering an environment of camaraderie and mutual respect. 

Lifetime Achievement Award 

Winner: Steven Hatch 

Steve’s interest in the racing rules began at a young age. He became a National Judge in the early 90’s and sits on the Protest Committees at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, CYCA, RSYS and regularly assists many other clubs with rules issues and hearings.  Steve became a World Sailing International Judge and International Umpire in 1995 and an International Race Officer in 1998.  He is the equal 4th longest serving International Umpire at World Sailing and has been appointed to several World Sailing Committees. Even after a serious medical condition curtailed his mobility in late 2022, Steve continues to actively participate assisting Australian Sailing, World Sailing and taking part in protest hearings online. 

SheSails Award 

Winner: Nicole Douglass     

Nicole is an inspiring representative for women in sailing through her media company Adventures of a Sailor Girl, covering many aspects of women in sailing. Nicole consistently interviews female sailors at regattas around the world and shares their stories.  

In the last year, Nicole has been a mentor for young female sailors through the Magenta Project, assisting her mentee to experience foiling, big boat sailing and helping them host a female sailor’s meet up. 

Sports Promotion Award 

Winner: Lisa Darmanin (Not present on the award night)         

Through SailGP broadcasts and her detailed Technical Tours on social media, Lisa is making an impact projecting a strong, authoritative female Australian voice to an International Audience. Lisa’s unique experience as an Olympic Nacra 17 Sailor together with her polished presenting skills has enabled her to bring an insight into the technicalities of high-performance foiling to a new generation of fans. Lisa’s easy going style and interaction with the athletes during social media interviews and official press conferences allows the audience to gain an insight into the sport beyond the sailing. On and off screen, Lisa is an outstanding role model and promoter for the sport of Sailing. 

Sports Professional Award  

Winner: Dillon McGrath     

Dillon McGrath manages the Canberra Yacht Club Sailing School, which is central to the club’s business model. His management approach is meticulous, thorough, efficient and effectively supports the club’s strategic priorities. As a leader he has earned a very high level of confidence and support from all involved with the Sailing School and the Club more widely. 

Sustainability Award 

Winner: Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Sustainability Committee 

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron embraces World Sailing’s ambitious vision to protect the waters of the world and influence sailors to create a sustainable future for sailing. 

The RSYS has taken a visionary approach installing 96 solar panels on the club's boatshed as our first step into green energy supply and reducing our carbon footprint.  
The club has removed single use plastic containers and straws, installed water fountains in buildings and on the hard stand and partnered with Oz Harvest to reduce food waste. 

The club promotes sustainability to members through regular guest for example having Lisa Blair spend time with children from the tackers program talking about sailing and climate action. The club website has a dedicated page showcasing their initiatives and achievements.