In the extremely competitive category of Official of the Year, four national finalists have been selected for their contribution to sailing in Australia as well as overseas.

The first of the four finalists, Andre Blasse from Black Rock Yacht Club and the Australian OK Dinghy Association, has served as a volunteer at the highest level for more than 20 years, including at three Olympic Games and endless international and local regattas.

Andre’s volunteering covers several disciplines: Measurement, Race Management and Sailing Administration.

Andre has been a strong advocate for inclusive sailing whilst Commodore at Black Rock Yacht Club.

This involves the Inaugural Optimist Girls weekend; mentoring and training a youth indigenous club member in race management and working with encouraging disabled youth sailing at Black Rock Yacht Club for the Berendale School.

At club level Andre has been Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore and Sailing Captain. He has also been OK Dinghy Australia President, Treasurer, and measurer; OK Dinghy International President and Chief Measurer and Finn Class Chief Measurer.

He was appointed Chief Measurer for the 2022 Finn Gold Cup World Championships in Malcesine Italy, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics he was a Member of the Worlds Sailing Technical Committee - ITO for the Finn Class.

In 2019 Andre also served as NTO/Deputy at the Finn Gold Cup World Championships and Chief Measurer at the Finn Europeans in Athens Greece.

Marcus Cooper, Commodore of Henley Sailing Club (HSC), is a qualified Race Officer at National and State level, and holds dinghy, dinghy racing, powerboat, and safety boat instructor qualifications.

This past season he contributed to the conduct of Henley Sailing Club’s local racing program, the club’s leg of the tri-series (including managing the event), Mirror States at Goolwa Aquatic Club, SA Summer of Sail at Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron  (including assistant management), Opti States at Largs Bay Sailing Club, Opti frostbite at Goolwa and Kite Foiling heats at Henley.

In recent years, he also contributed to multiple youth tri series events at other clubs and the 2020 Mosquito nationals at ASC.

He often gives up his own time for sailing (a proven accomplished sailor himself) to help run sailing programs locally or at other clubs.

Well respected on and off the water, Marcus has mentored the Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club Race Officer Lisa Brock, encouraged others to complete their Race Officers qualifications and is always found at Henley, or along the coast, teaching and mentoring others.

Whether it’s helping with tuning your boat, driving rescue boats and laying marks, or talking about the weather, a learning opportunity is never missed. He contributes to the 505 class as State and National secretary, including helping to write the current bid for the 2025 Worlds at ASC.

Hugh Leicester from Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club, Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club and the ILCA World Council is an outstanding International Race Officer (IRO) officiating as an Australian Official for dinghy sailing at countless international regattas.

Hugh has been involved in running ILCA World Sailing Championships since 2001, has acted as a World Sailing Course Representative and has been an IRO since 2014.

Hugh acted as Race Officer and World Sailing Course Representative at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for ILCA sailing dinghies. He was also an ARO appointed by the RYA for the London Olympics in 2012.

Other recent World competition events officiated by Hugh include the 2022 Mexico and 2019 Japan Olympic Test Events as well as the Enoshima World Cup Series.

Hugh is currently Vice-President of the ILCA World Council, a group that he has been a member of since 2000.

Hugh is also on the ILCA Advisory Council and the ILCA Events & Race Management Committee.

Within Australia, Hugh is a member of Australian Sailing’s NSW & ACT Race Officials Committee.

Hugh served as the Vice-Chairman Australian Laser Association in the late 90s and the Asian Pacific Chairman through until 2010.

He also contributes to local competition, including as Principal Race Officer for the 2020/21 Australian 13ft & 16ft Skiff Regatta and for the previous five years.

The last finalist in the division, Ed Vincent from Darwin Sailing Club and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has been heavily involved in volunteering and officiating at the Darwin Sailing Club since his arrival in the Northern Territory (NT) over eight years ago.

Prior to his arrival in the NT, Ed was active in sailing officiating and administration in Tasmania where he served on the board of Yachting Tasmania, including terms as Vice President and President, as well as many years on the general committee of Tamar Yacht Club.

In 2022 he completed a six-year term as President of the Cruising Yacht Association of the Northern Territory (CYANT).

Ed holds National accreditation as a Race Officer, Judge and Equipment Auditor and is also a member of the Australian Sailing Race Officials Committee. For the last two years he has been active in the Australian Sailing Race Officials Working Group which has reviewed the organisation’s policy, training, and accreditation of Race Officials.

Ed has spent much of the last few years mentoring emerging officials and is currently conducting a formal mentoring program for new and emerging race officials at his home club.

Additionally, over the 2021-22 sailing season, Ed has officiated at numerous events nation-wide, including as a Principal Race Officer at Sail Sydney, the Minnow Nationals and the Oceania Laser Masters, and on the Jury at Sail Melbourne.

The winner of Official of the Year will be announced on Friday November 4 at the Australian Sailing Awards. To buy a ticket or read more about the awards, please click here.