Three finalists have been announced in the Instructor of the Year category for the Australian Sailing Awards to be held on Friday November 4.

The first of the finalists, Holly Hunt has worked at Western Australia’s Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) as a casual instructor and coach since December 2019.

She is an Australian Sailing accredited Dinghy Instructor, OutThereSailing Instructor, Tackers Instructor and Sailing Coach, who has completed her foil lab accreditation as she looks towards instructing Learn to Wing programs.

During the nomination period, Holly worked over 430 hours at the club’s Dinghy & Training Centre (DTC), with her major strengths revolving around instructing and engaging the club’s teenage and youth development programs.

She is an active Moth sailor and Windsurfer who is also a member of the Akamai Race Team, which is comprised of dedicated female youth sailors who represent RFBYC in WA fleet and match racing events.

Over the past 12 months, Holly has also been heavily involved in the RFBYC instructor mentor program.

Whether it is leading a group, working one-on-one, or mentoring assistant instructors, Holly has a great love and passion for sailing instructing. She is patient and nurturing with our assistant instructors and is always willing to pass on her knowledge.

Zoe Morris from Somers Yacht Club is the next finalist in the category, having been an instructor for the last three seasons and an assistant instructor for four seasons prior, teaching both juniors and adults in learn to sail courses.

Zoe has been a member of Somers Yacht Club all her life and learnt to sail herself through Somers Yacht Club Sailing School.

Her passion and enthusiasm for sailing is seen through her manner while teaching and around the club on race days, encouraging fun while teaching and always considering safety and the best learning outcomes.

Zoe has become one of Somers more senior instructors, taking on the mentoring and the leadership requirements needed for the new assistants and instructors.

Her vibrant manner instills self-belief into the people she works with while her patience is never wavering, allowing people all the time they need to learn a new skill.

Zoe has also worked tirelessly with one young member who has cerebral palsy, giving him great confidence and the skills so he too may continue to sail in the future in his own boat.

She has also volunteered her time to help lead many junior events and last year became president of the Youth Committee, demonstrating both her own self development and her leadership skills.

The final individual recognised as a finalist in the category, Scott Davis is the Principal instructor at Cairns Yacht Club (CYC) and over the last nine-and-a-half years has developed an outstanding youth program, which includes the mentoring and coaching of junior instructors while inspiring parents to participate and volunteer in these programs.

Scott has committed every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning (during school terms) to the running of Tackers and other School and Junior programs, training over 1000 students and mentoring more than 15 junior instructors.

An engaging individual who has a contagious love for sailing that he passes this onto the youngsters at every lesson, he is an instructor who goes above and beyond for everyone he comes in contact with.

Scott has a unique way of ‘tuning in’ with the young sailors who range from six to 13 years of age, encouraging them to be inclusive, vigilant of their peers, respectful to other instructors and safety conscious.

Scott also has the nous to quickly identify the kids with ADHD, ADD and kids on the Spectrum and therefore adjusts his teaching style which as one parent said is: “Quite remarkable.”

Scott’s dedication to the club has seen him give up his entire weekends for the CYC, Junior Sailing, regattas and working bees.

The winner of Instructor of the Year will be announced at the Australian Sailing Awards on November 4 in Sydney. For more information on the national awards, please click here.