Three deserving people were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and their names added to the prestigious Solo Trophy at the 2023 Queensland Sailing Awards held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron on Thursday 7th September.

The Solo trophy is awarded for outstanding services to the sport in Queensland. Such service could be in the areas of administrative services, race/event management, club and/or class association training or similar that is seen to have been of benefit to the sport in general. It is envisaged that nominees will have given some years of significant service to the sport.

All three recipients have contributed to the Queensland sailing community over a combined total of 220 years!

Here are snippets of their amazing stories.


KEITH STOVER - KEPPEL BAY SAILING CLUB

Keith Stover became a foundation member at the Club's first meeting held in1957 and has been involved with Keppel Bay Sailing Club and the sport of sailing ever since. He was the leader & Instructor of learn to sail for the Sea Scouts, Rockhampton, established the Capricorn Junior Sailing Association, developed the sail training program for the Rockhampton Naval Cadets, and coached two teams of Naval Cadets to participate in the 1981 Corsair Nationals. He was made a life member of the Corsair Association Queensland. Keith delivered the first of Queensland Yachting Association’s learn to sail programs. In the 90’s, Keith became a watch leader on South Passage and took many club instructors/youth sailors along with him and he was also honoured to receive an Australia Day Award for his contribution to sailing.Keith has a long list of competitions, qualifications and flag official roles to his name and is currently the Club Patron at Keppel Bay Sailing Club.


COLIN METCHER – SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB

Colin Metcher is the most dedicated and passionate sailor on and off the water. His list of involvement and achievements in sailing are too long to state, so here is the quick version.

• Held 6 official roles.
• Organised 5 large events and many state and nationals.
• Been in the industry as a writer for yachting magazines, design and promotion of production catamarans, marine sales, yacht deliveries, TV series on learning to sail a sailboard, loss assessor and owner of retail, repairs and sail making.
• Made it a “family thing”–wife has crewed in many events, all 6 children have also sailed in numerous club, state, and national events, and now he has 4 grandchildren sailing!
• Colin has competed in many events - 2 World Championships, 1 European Championship, 1 British Championship, 10 Australian Championships, 11 State Championships, 22 Club Championships and 8 offshore Races.

TED REYE – ROYAL QUEENSLAND YACHT SQUADRON 

Ted refuses to say anything about being 90. He started sailing at the age of 5 in his father's dinghy at the sailing club on the Brisbane River. He has sailed several classes mainly with the family. In his youth, he sailed with his brothers in a 14’ dinghy and he has owned a 23’ Hood and a Thorpe. He joined RQYS 40 years ago in 1983 and then purchased Colombina (Mottle 33) in 1986 and has maintained and sailed her ever since. Ted has won the pursuit race many times during WAGS at the club, as well as winning the JSA prize - more than once - for the most amount of starts in a calendar year. 


We would love to see more people acknowledged and celebrated in this category.  Do you know someone who has given a lifetime of service to the Queensland Sailing Community?  Please nominate those deserving for the 2024 Queensland Sailing Awards.

You can view all our awarded Queenslanders on the online Honour Board.

Want to read more about the 2023 Queensland Sailing Awards?  Check out the article here