Gordon Wilson Ingate OAM began his extraordinary sailing career at the age of nine when he joined the 1st Chatswood Sea Scouts where he began many adventures and expeditions on the Scout group’s little gaff-rigged boat. At the age of twelve Gordon joined the 6th Sydney Sea Scouts in Mosman Bay. 

For the next few years he spent many weekends at the boatshed, sailing on VJs, 12, 14 and 16 foot skiffs. He caught the attention of members at the nearby sailing clubs and was asked to make up crew on bigger boats which introduced him to ocean racing. He sailed with the likes of Jack Earl on the famous Kathleen Gillett and Peter Luke on Wayfarer.

During the World War II years, Gordon started sailing VS skiffs out of the nearby Mosman Amateur Sailing Club.  He built his own VS, Barracuda, but that was wrecked soon after launch in a strong southerly. He built a lighter, stronger version and went on to win the NSW and National VS titles.

He qualified for the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, but his employer refused to grant the minimum four months leave he needed to go to Europe and back by ship.  Gordon continued sailing in multiple classes and, after marrying Sally, talked his new father-in-law into lending his 30 footer Jasnar to Gordon so he could sail in the 1950 Sydney-Hobart race with no electrics, motor or lifelines. His ‘first aid kit’ was a new packet of Band Aids.

Gordon went close to qualifying for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the Dragon class which he’d taken up some years earlier. After the Olympics a new regatta was organised for competitors still in Melbourne and some of the top Australians. It was the Prince Philip Cup, now the Australian National Championship, which Gordon has gone on to win four times, most recently in 2017 and 2018 at the age of 90 and 91 respectively.

In Australia’s first Admiral’s Cup international teams’ event at Cowes in 1965, he skippered his ocean racer Caprice of Huon, finishing second behind Britain.  Sir Frank Packer then asked Gordon to join the America’s Cup challenge team, and in 1977 Gordon challenged for the Cup with Gretel 11 but was eliminated in the challenger selection trials.

In 1972, he represented Australia in the Tempest class at the Olympic Games (for which he recently received the Australian Sailing Team’s Barranjoey Pin). He finished a close second in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race that same year.

Gordon, known by the affectionate nickname ’Wingnut’ was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to sailing in 2016.  Gordon has had a huge influence over so many decades and classes and is well respected for his efforts both at home and internationally. A great character and personality within the sport, he is well known and respected across the world. He recently celebrated his 93rd birthday and is still competing; an inspiration for all of us.